[Elecraft] spoke to soon...K2 problem
Ron, AC7AC, wrote It's not a sign of a low quality supply at all, but merely one that has a transformer in it. I had major problems with power supplies here a expensive kenwood switch mode and a not so expensive samlex switch mode gave me magnetic interference + a lot of rf interference across the 80m band,i am not sure about the statement made by ron that (High quality switching supplies don,t do either) my expensive kenwood one was i nightmare but i will accept expensive does not constitute quality also in the uk we use supplies that transform from 240v so results may be different in the uk i use a 35.00 usd non switchmode power supply from watson now that is pretty cheap model is watson w3 amp i have no problems now. Mick M1MGD K2#4785 K1#1532 G-qrp 11355Arci 12343 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] spoke to soon...K2 problem
Thanks for the info Tom it was a SEC 1223 but i no longer have the ps. Mick M1MGD K2#4785 K1#1532 G-qrp 11355Arci 12343 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K2 filter control
Hello all, While setting up N1MM to work with my just finished K2 I found the following 'problems': - Wide/Narrow filter selection works just after typing the right commands, but not after restarting N1MM. In the ini file the commands are OK. - Auto update TRX offset with Mark frequency in RTTY window does not work, works OK with my FT-1000D. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance, Sjoerd PE2SVN ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] spectrogram
In addition to aligning the IF's for the K2 can Spectrogram also show the Christmas Tree effect for SSB? How about the rise and fall of the CW note? What about in receive mode. Can it also show these for the received station? 73s john-n3drk ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] spectrogram
John, Sjpectrogram is a FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) spectrum analyzer program. It's display is amplitude versus frequency. What you need to display the Christmas Tree and CW waveforms is an oscilloscope display. In the case of the Christmas Tree, the oscilloscope is set up to display RF drive or audio on the horizontal axis and RF output on the vertical axis (the oscilloscope is in X-Y mode, with x=drive, Y=RF out). For the cw envelope you use the oscilloscope in the conventional mode where the horizontal axis is time and the vertical axis is voltage. So the short answer to your question is NO. jim, AB4CZ can Spectrogram also show the Christmas Tree effect for SSB? How about the rise and fall of the CW note? What about in receive mode. Can it also show these for the received station? ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] KNB2 - can´t bring it to work
I have sharp pulses on all bands hitting the band about once per second, which the noiseblanker of my old IC 735 kills, but not so my K2 S/N 4765. I can - more or less - read a circuit diagramm (I don´t understand each components function in detail yet) I´ve tried some signal tracing, couldn´t identify a faulty component and can´t find out, what is wrong. Is there an info-sheet available, what has to be seen with a dual-scope-oszilloscope at which point and at what siganl level? 73 Karsten DK4AS ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] spectrogram
John, No - what you are asking about is a time-domain display as you would see on an oscilloscope, Spectrogram provides a frequency-domain display by computing the FFT of the input signal - i.e. Spectrogram is a spectrum analyzer, but it is limited to audio frequencies. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- In addition to aligning the IF's for the K2 can Spectrogram also show the Christmas Tree effect for SSB? How about the rise and fall of the CW note? What about in receive mode. Can it also show these for the received station? 73s john-n3drk ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Let me build a K2 for you.
I have built more than 100 K2's and many of the other Elecraft kits. Let me build one for you. My prices are reasonable and you receive a radio fully built and ready to play. 73 Alan W1HYV ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Noise Blanker gain
About the noise blanker: Mine is working fine on all bands except for a particular noise on 40 m. It is killed completly by the NB on all other bands. But it seems that the gain is not always (works some time) sufficient to trigger it at 7,050 MHz. That noise is rising to full strength in about 3 seconds or so, then vanish after about 10 seconds. I plan to change C16 to a higher value (better coupling to the amp stage). My question: is it a good (or the best/only) way to add some gain to the blanker? 73 de VE2PID K2 s/n 5170 KX1 s/n 442 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] It's time to think Hamvention!
This is the announcement for the 2006 QRP-ARCI / FISTS Dayton Hamvention rooms. We have lots of rooms at the Holiday Inn and Homewood Suite in Fairborn Ohio, about 17.18 miles from the lovely HARA arena! The details, information and room request form are located: http://www.usol.com/~k8dd/rooms/rooms.htm If you don't see rooms available for what you want, fill out the form anyhow - there will be rooms available! 73HankK8DD ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] KPA100 right angle pin insertion
Hello All- I've been trying to insert the right-angle PCB pins into the red/ black housings. Unless the drawings are wrong, it looks like the pins protrude from the top of the assembly. I find this impossible to achieve because of a bent-up catch on the top of the pins which prevent them from even entering the shells at the top, and when I try to push the pin in from the bottom of the opening, they won't go in, and if they did, wouldn't match the diagram. Should I clip off the top bent-up piece on the pin? A push in the right direction would be appreciated. 73, Jeff KG6ZVT ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Low RF Output on 20 and 30
I have just finished my second K2, #5113. I am getting only 0.30 watts output on 20 and 30. Adjustment of L8 and L9 and C21 and C23 has no affect. All other bands work fine and give me the RF output called for. Any suggestions on where to look? Jonathan Gottlieb WA3WDK CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this e-mail is confidential, may be legally privileged, and is intended only for the use of the party named above. If the reader of this is not the intended recipient, you are advised that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify us by telephone at 612.335.1500 and destroy this e-mail. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] KNB2 - can´t bring it to work
Karsten, Sounds like the noise is outside of the KNB2's range. There is a mod for wider spaced noise like you describe. See http://www.qslnet.de/member/la3za/K2/modAny.html#KNB2 What you describe sounds like an electric fence. There was some discusion about an improved noise blanker on the mailing list a while back. Perhaps Wayne or Eric might comment on whether Elecraft will be introducing a new noise blanker in the future. 73, Darrell VA7TO K2#5093 On January 22, 2006 06:43 am, Karsten Eppert(DK4AS) wrote: I have sharp pulses on all bands hitting the band about once per second, which the noiseblanker of my old IC 735 kills, but not so my K2 S/N 4765. I can - more or less - read a circuit diagramm (I don´t understand each components function in detail yet) I´ve tried some signal tracing, couldn´t identify a faulty component and can´t find out, what is wrong. Is there an info-sheet available, what has to be seen with a dual-scope-oszilloscope at which point and at what siganl level? 73 Karsten DK4AS ___ -- Darrell Bellerive Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] KNB2 - can´t bring i t to work
Hi Karsten, I have found the same thing. I have bad power line noise. Sometime the K2 NB takes it all out, sometimes not. My IC-735 takes all the noise out. I get the KNB2 to work sometimes by putting the pre-amp ON, then try both high and low thresholds, and both timings. 73 de K3YT ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Low RF Output on 20 and 30
Hi Jonathan, I had pretty much the same problem with 20 and 30. While I pride myself on good soldering techniques, it was a poor solder job in the band pass filter for 20m/30m. Pay close attention to those components. 73, Joe, aa4nn -- I have just finished my second K2, #5113. I am getting only 0.30 watts output on 20 and 30. Adjustment of L8 and L9 and C21 and C23 has no affect. All other bands work fine and give me the RF output called for. Any suggestions on where to look? Jonathan Gottlieb WA3WDK CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this e-mail is confidential, may be legally privileged, and is intended only for the use of the party named above. If the reader of this is not the intended recipient, you are advised that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify us by telephone at 612.335.1500 and destroy this e-mail. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Spoke too soon... K2 problem
Hi Ed, It's a Radio Shack 13.5 volt, 1-amp supply. I was using it mainly for receive and test transmitting, up to about 2 or 3 watts, for which it worked great with the K1. For what it's worth, the supply has a good long cord, two of them actually, about 6 feet of cord from the outlet to the supply itself, then another 6 feet from the power supply to the radio. The supply was never anywhere near the K2. However, my work bench is a pretty busy place, so there is a lot of other electrical equipment within 2 or 3 feet of the radio. On the other hand, I built my K2 with the magnetic VCO shield option right from the start, so I never bothered to instal L30. So I'm not sure if the problem was magnetic interference. I suspect that the the DC coming out of the power supply isn't as clean as I expected. Anyhow, running it off some batteries did seem to clear up the receive 100%. To be sure though, I'm having another good look at the K2 to make sure I didn't miss or mess up any of the RF chokes. 73 de Stephanie va3uxb K2#5311 - K1#2132 On 22-Jan-2006, at 11.41.40, Ed Findley wrote: Stephanie Just so we know so we can using it, What was the power supply you were using that caused the problem? Thanks Ed Findley N5LDY K2 #1073 FP #1233 Thank you everybody for pointing out the very obvious source of my problem. I had read about what can happen with low quality power supplies. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] What does SWR-protected mean?
I noticed on the Elecraft website, that both the K1 and K2 specifications use the term SWR-protected in the description of the PA transistors. What does this mean, exactly? If the K1 or K2 is presented with high SWR, will the radio shut down or shut off or unkey or something? Thanks and 73 de Stephanie va3uxb K2#5311 - K1#2132 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] DMM advice?
Hello all... Have been lurking here for a while soaking up some wisdom in anticipation of receipt of my K2. As I lost all of my tools etc. in Katrina, I'm in the process of re-stocking, including a new digital multimeter. I've poked around on the net some, but the choices are truly bewildering. If anyone could offer a suggestion for a unit with a good price-performance ratio, I'd certainly appreciate it. Best regards, Louis KE5GIU ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] spectrogram
Listed below is a link for a Windows based Oscilloscope. This can be used for transmitting but I do not know about receiving. What do you guys think? By the way thanks to all for responding to my original post. http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=3428 73s john-n3drk - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: n3drk [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 9:31 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] spectrogram John, Sjpectrogram is a FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) spectrum analyzer program. It's display is amplitude versus frequency. What you need to display the Christmas Tree and CW waveforms is an oscilloscope display. In the case of the Christmas Tree, the oscilloscope is set up to display RF drive or audio on the horizontal axis and RF output on the vertical axis (the oscilloscope is in X-Y mode, with x=drive, Y=RF out). For the cw envelope you use the oscilloscope in the conventional mode where the horizontal axis is time and the vertical axis is voltage. So the short answer to your question is NO. jim, AB4CZ can Spectrogram also show the Christmas Tree effect for SSB? How about the rise and fall of the CW note? What about in receive mode. Can it also show these for the received station? ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] DMM advice?
Check out the BK 2707A which has exceptional features/capabilities; too many to mention here, for around $80USD. Used here for 3+ years. de Joe, aa4nn - Have been lurking here for a while soaking up some wisdom in anticipation of receipt of my K2. As I lost all of my tools etc. in Katrina, I'm in the process of re-stocking, including a new digital multimeter. I've poked around on the net some, but the choices are truly bewildering. If anyone could offer a suggestion for a unit with a good price-performance ratio, I'd certainly appreciate it. Best regards, Louis KE5GIU ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] spoke to soon...K2 problem
Switchers are a different story. And you remind us all the high quality doesn't necessarily go with high price. That's why I still use a big, clunky ol' linear supply sitting under my desk. Got enough noise on the bands already G Ron AC7AC -Original Message- I had major problems with power supplies here a expensive kenwood switch mode and a not so expensive samlex switch mode gave me magnetic interference + a lot of rf interference across the 80m band,i am not sure about the statement made by ron that (High quality switching supplies don,t do either) my expensive kenwood one was i nightmare but i will accept expensive does not constitute quality also in the uk we use supplies that transform from 240v so results may be different in the uk i use a 35.00 usd non switchmode power supply from watson now that is pretty cheap model is watson w3 amp i have no problems now. Mick M1MGD K2#4785 K1#1532 G-qrp 11355Arci 12343 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] What does SWR-protected mean?
Stephanie, VA3UXB wrote: I noticed on the Elecraft website, that both the K1 and K2 specifications use the term SWR-protected in the description of the PA transistors. What does this mean, exactly? If the K1 or K2 is presented with high SWR, will the radio shut down or shut off or unkey or something? -- I just had that experience with my K2/100 last night, Stephanie. I was chatting with a station on 80 meter CW, running 100 watts, when I noticed the power output go to zero. I still had sidetone as I keyed, just no RF output. Now, in six years of operation with K2 S/N1289, I've never seen a burble. Power was still on, but output was zero. I applied immediate action. In the Army that means kick the [EMAIL PROTECTED] out of your weapon when it jams in the middle of battle. On the K2 I was a little less violent: I cycled the power off then on again. Keyed the rig and RF output was back and normal. H... red flag But it keyed FB and I apologized for the break to the other guy and continued with the QSO. A minute or two later it happened again. Cycled power again. Now I'm wondering if the Astron supply is dying. A minute or so later it happened again. This time I caught a glimpse of HI REFL... on the LCD and notice my external SWR meter jump too. So I signed and investigated. I had been swapping cables around and the antenna cable to my external ATU was loose and making intermittent connection. When it would break connection, the SWR went through the roof at full power and the 100 watt amp shut down automatically without damage. Tightening the connector fixed the problem. Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] DMM advice?
Louis - The Velleman 890L is a versatile instrument at a reasonable price. It has all the usual functions plus capacitance measurement, transistor hFE, temperature (includes probe), frequency to 20 KHz, current ranges to 20 amperes, and auto-shutoff so you don't run the battery down. Price is typically about $35.00 to $ 45.00 depending on where you order. There are probably better units out there if cost is no object, but the combination of features and price will be hard to beat. Here is a link: http://www.ba-electronics.com/dvm890.htm The usual disclaimers apply. Good luck. - Jim, KL7CC Louis LaCour wrote: Hello all... Have been lurking here for a while soaking up some wisdom in anticipation of receipt of my K2. As I lost all of my tools etc. in Katrina, I'm in the process of re-stocking, including a new digital multimeter. I've poked around on the net some, but the choices are truly bewildering. If anyone could offer a suggestion for a unit with a good price-performance ratio, I'd certainly appreciate it. Best regards, Louis KE5GIU ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] DMM advice?
Louis, KE5GIU asked: Have been lurking here for a while soaking up some wisdom in anticipation of receipt of my K2. As I lost all of my tools etc. in Katrina, I'm in the process of re-stocking, including a new digital multimeter. I've poked around on the net some, but the choices are truly bewildering. If anyone could offer a suggestion for a unit with a good price-performance ratio, I'd certainly appreciate it. I've used a Fluke for years. Good and relatively expensive, and rugged. But there are good alternatives. A few years ago my Fluke suffered a minor mechanical failure. While waiting for a replacement part I happened to notice a Radio Shack DMM for about $80. Not only did it do the standard volts, ohms, amps thing, it had a capacitance meter and temperature probe. I bought it on impulse. After getting the Fluke back into working condition, I ran a bunch of tests. The two meters are within 2% of each other; less than 1% on most ranges and measurements. That's not too surprising. The chips that run those things are mass-produced, as are the voltage divider networks for the various ranges. Modern manufacturing offers a precision for pennies that we couldn't buy at any price not too many years ago. The difference that I noticed was in the speed. The Fluke is virtually instantaneous. The RS meter takes a few seconds to display the value. That seems to be one of the big differences in meters. The faster I.C.s cost significantly more than the slow ones, so they go in the more expensive meters. By the way, the capacitance test in the RS meter is amazing. Although it has about 100 pF parasitic capacitance - that is, it reads about 100 pF with nothing connected, it is accurate to within a couple of percent all the way down to 10 or 20 pF by simply subtracting the parasitic value. Of course, it goes way up into the many microfarads to check electrolytics at the other extreme. That makes it ideal for sorting out caps of all values though. Another difference between cheap and expensive meters is in the number of digits they display. Many cheaper meters have 3 or 3-1/2 digit displays. That's good enough for many things, but you'll sometimes want to see more resolution than that. A full four digit display is a good investment. Related to the number of digits and speed is the ability of the meter to follow a change in voltage or current as you adjust a circuit. Although the RS meter takes a few seconds to update the digital display, it has a bar-graph that moves quickly to show when a null or peak in an adjustment is reached. Smaller, cheaper meters often omit this feature, making them virtually useless for such peaking or nulling adjustments unless one has a lot of patience! (Personally, I hate all those displays. I still keep an old-fashioned VOM with a wiggly-needle meter in it that I use when I can for such adjusting. But sometimes the high input impedance of the DMM is essential.) Finally, there's mechanical ruggedness. Meters like the Flukes are designed to take a beating, especially if you buy the protective boots that are available. I'm not so sure the cheaper ones would survive as well. So far I've managed to avoid dropping either one of them, so I can't offer any personal experience there. Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] KNB2 - can´t bring it to work
Thank you Darrell, I checked the pulse width, and in fact it is 500 usec or broader, while the KNB2 spec is 10 to 70 usec. Seems I have to play with C11 and C12. Still, if could get hold of a diagram, that shows what to measure where, it would be appriciated. 73 Karsten DK4AS Darrell Bellerive schrieb: Karsten, Sounds like the noise is outside of the KNB2's range. There is a mod for wider spaced noise like you describe. See http://www.qslnet.de/member/la3za/K2/modAny.html#KNB2 What you describe sounds like an electric fence. There was some discusion about an improved noise blanker on the mailing list a while back. Perhaps Wayne or Eric might comment on whether Elecraft will be introducing a new noise blanker in the future. 73, Darrell VA7TO K2#5093 On January 22, 2006 06:43 am, Karsten Eppert(DK4AS) wrote: I have sharp pulses on all bands hitting the band about once per second, which the noiseblanker of my old IC 735 kills, but not so my K2 S/N 4765. I can - more or less - read a circuit diagramm (I don´t understand each components function in detail yet) I´ve tried some signal tracing, couldn´t identify a faulty component and can´t find out, what is wrong. Is there an info-sheet available, what has to be seen with a dual-scope-oszilloscope at which point and at what siganl level? 73 Karsten DK4AS ___ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] DMM advice?
Louis, I picked up an ESCORT EDM-163 at Dayton several years ago (new) at a good price (about $65) for the features it offered - Handheld, Auto power off, auto-ranging with manual override, bargraph display as well as digital, current measurement to 10 Amps and down to 200 uA, diode forward voltage test, etc. This 3 1/2 digit meter has served me well. The settling time for the readings is not as fast as some more expensive meters but is adequate for me for general use. At my workbench I have a Kiethley instruments DMM that is faster, and when I get around to repairing it, I have a Fluke 8800 that is really fast and shows a lot more digits, but I can't carry those around just anywhere. You will find most DMMs are adequately accurate for ham use - even the $4.99 ones at Harbor Freight Tools, but they are rather slow about settling down to the real reading and they are manual range switched. The big difference in DMM performance is in the speed of response - make your own compromises on that issue after deciding which feaures you want and need - the price you pay will depend on your choices. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- Have been lurking here for a while soaking up some wisdom in anticipation of receipt of my K2. As I lost all of my tools etc. in Katrina, I'm in the process of re-stocking, including a new digital multimeter. I've poked around on the net some, but the choices are truly bewildering. If anyone could offer a suggestion for a unit with a good price-performance ratio, I'd certainly appreciate it. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] What does SWR-protected mean?
It's usually not that drastic, though. The real meaning is that transmit power folds back when the K1/2 sees high SWR in order to protect the PA transistors. Power doesn't necessarily go to zero unless a really severe SWR was encountered. I made pretty good use of this in the NAQP contest last evening. Operating 160 meters on my 80/40 trap dipole caused the K2/100 to see just this condition. My output power dropped quite a bit, but I usually made the QSOs (about eight as I recall). They were pretty much all locals, but the points count. The idea here is that we try to engineer the radios to protect themselves in the event of a fault (high SWR is considered a fault), but keep on working. This allows you to finish what you were doing, then correct the fault as soon as you can and quickly return to full operation. In my case correcting the fault involves figuring out how to get a decent 160m antenna on my small city lot. ;-) Now back to work... On Jan 22, 2006, at 10:43 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: Stephanie, VA3UXB wrote: I noticed on the Elecraft website, that both the K1 and K2 specifications use the term SWR-protected in the description of the PA transistors. What does this mean, exactly? If the K1 or K2 is presented with high SWR, will the radio shut down or shut off or unkey or something? -- I just had that experience with my K2/100 last night, Stephanie. I was chatting with a station on 80 meter CW, running 100 watts, when I noticed the power output go to zero. I still had sidetone as I keyed, just no RF output. Now, in six years of operation with K2 S/N1289, I've never seen a burble. Power was still on, but output was zero. I applied immediate action. In the Army that means kick the [EMAIL PROTECTED] out of your weapon when it jams in the middle of battle. On the K2 I was a little less violent: I cycled the power off then on again. Keyed the rig and RF output was back and normal. H... red flag But it keyed FB and I apologized for the break to the other guy and continued with the QSO. A minute or two later it happened again. Cycled power again. Now I'm wondering if the Astron supply is dying. A minute or so later it happened again. This time I caught a glimpse of HI REFL... on the LCD and notice my external SWR meter jump too. So I signed and investigated. I had been swapping cables around and the antenna cable to my external ATU was loose and making intermittent connection. When it would break connection, the SWR went through the roof at full power and the 100 watt amp shut down automatically without damage. Tightening the connector fixed the problem. Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com - Jack Brindle, W6FB - ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K2 #5272 QRV
Hi! I get my K2 #5272 ready. Few picture found on my website, http://oh6hop.net/k2 Options on my k2: ssb, 160m, nb, dsp, 100w pa. Vy fb kit and really good radio. Cu in cw! 73 es gl dx de oh6hop, Jarno ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] DMM advice?
Just a quick note here. I got a real cheap DMM for free wih my soldering iron with way too few digits to be of use. However, I bought a mini dmm when I was in Japan that is still my favorite when I can find it. Most of my measurements (and repairs, I've found) are things like, Is there power? or, Is there continuity? I bought a Metex on sale off of Radio Shack's web site for $20 that I really like. It's one that is rebadged for Radio Shack and is sold for $70 or so usually. Unfortunately, Radio Shack's web site doesn't seem to have as much neat stuff as it used to. Oh, and I have a Fluke as well. Turns out that most of my recent fooling around doesn't require something as nice. Just remember: a cheap DMM is so much nicer than having no DMM. On Sun, 22 Jan 2006, Don Wilhelm wrote: Louis, I picked up an ESCORT EDM-163 at Dayton several years ago (new) at a good price (about $65) for the features it offered - Handheld, Auto power off, auto-ranging with manual override, bargraph display as well as digital, current measurement to 10 Amps and down to 200 uA, diode forward voltage test, etc. This 3 1/2 digit meter has served me well. The settling time for the readings is not as fast as some more expensive meters but is adequate for me for general use. At my workbench I have a Kiethley instruments DMM that is faster, and when I get around to repairing it, I have a Fluke 8800 that is really fast and shows a lot more digits, but I can't carry those around just anywhere. You will find most DMMs are adequately accurate for ham use - even the $4.99 ones at Harbor Freight Tools, but they are rather slow about settling down to the real reading and they are manual range switched. The big difference in DMM performance is in the speed of response - make your own compromises on that issue after deciding which feaures you want and need - the price you pay will depend on your choices. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- Have been lurking here for a while soaking up some wisdom in anticipation of receipt of my K2. As I lost all of my tools etc. in Katrina, I'm in the process of re-stocking, including a new digital multimeter. I've poked around on the net some, but the choices are truly bewildering. If anyone could offer a suggestion for a unit with a good price-performance ratio, I'd certainly appreciate it. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com -- Hisashi T Fujinaka - [EMAIL PROTECTED] BSEE(6/86) + BSChem(3/95) + BAEnglish(8/95) + MSCS(8/03) + $2.50 = latte ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] OT: Antenna Question
Harlan, I did not see any responses on the reflector, although you may have gotten off-reflector comments. For best results you should have the wire spaced a bit from the supporting stucture - while it will likely work stapled to the eaves, it will likely change tuning on you as the weather changes (rain, snow, etc.). I would opt for placing the loop on short standoffs above the roof surface or sticking outward so the loop is a bit larger than the roof - rather than on the sides or under the eaves, but if you have visibility concerns, under the eaves is probably a good way to make it obscure. It is not necessary to keep the wire parallel with the ground - and if you gain more loop circumference by running it up the 'V' of the gable, the lowest frequency it can handle will be reduced. You did not state how big you house foorprint is, but if you can get at least a full wavelength of wire up for 80 meters, it will allow you to operate on 80. One note: If you cannot get enough length for 80 meters and want to operate on that band, put an 80 meter trap (or open the loop somehow on 80 meters) at a point electrically opposite the feedpoint and you should have a usable antenna for 80 - not ideal, but certainly usable. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- I'm sure there is a wealth of info here on the reflector. I am planning on putting up a loop antenna around the eves of my house. I am running the K2 without external amplifier. Two questions: 1. Do I need to run the antenna wire using insulators, or can I just use insulated staples and staple it to the eves? 2. My house has tall gables at the sides. Is it better to run the antenna up the V of the gable, or keep it parallel with the ground? Thanks Harlan KI4IDA K2:5115 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] spectrogram
Any time you use an audio-based oscilloscope, monitoring the AF output from your receiver, you have to be aware that whatever you see on-screen is not only representative of the signal itself BUT to a bigger extent it reflects those characteristics placed upon it by the receiver itself (it's filters, the AGC characteristics, etc.). As a result, you should always remind yourself that what you're looking at (if it's coming thru the receiver's audio system) is not necessarily what is actually 'on the air'. 73, Tom HammondN0SS At 11:55 AM 1/22/2006, n3drk wrote: Listed below is a link for a Windows based Oscilloscope. This can be used for transmitting but I do not know about receiving. What do you guys think? By the way thanks to all for responding to my original post. http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=3428 73s john-n3drk - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: n3drk [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 9:31 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] spectrogram John, Sjpectrogram is a FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) spectrum analyzer program. It's display is amplitude versus frequency. What you need to display the Christmas Tree and CW waveforms is an oscilloscope display. In the case of the Christmas Tree, the oscilloscope is set up to display RF drive or audio on the horizontal axis and RF output on the vertical axis (the oscilloscope is in X-Y mode, with x=drive, Y=RF out). For the cw envelope you use the oscilloscope in the conventional mode where the horizontal axis is time and the vertical axis is voltage. So the short answer to your question is NO. jim, AB4CZ can Spectrogram also show the Christmas Tree effect for SSB? How about the rise and fall of the CW note? What about in receive mode. Can it also show these for the received station? ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] DMM advice?
Just remember: a cheap DMM is so much nicer than having no DMM. I'm not sure I agree with this statement. During alignment test II of my K2, my cheap DMM went wonky on me. Looking for VCO voltages on R30, and no matter what I tried, I only got a few dozen millivolts. So I checked for +6 volts on one of the pins of one of the ICs and found 20 volts! Then I checked at the power jack and saw over 30 volts! I shut off the K2 and pulled the power out, thinking for sure that my power supply had just gone wild and fried everything in the K2. I got my backup power supply out and checked that. It was reading over 30 volts as well! Of course, it was the cheap DMM. Anything under about 3 or 4 volts read as close to 0 volts, and anything over that read as 20 to 30 volts. It still seems to work for measuring resistance but I won't use it any more, it's lost my trust. I was doing some comparisons online and the BK models look really good to me. I tried to find a local shop to buy the 2706 model but nobody seems to carry them here. DigiKey has them but I was too impatient to wait for delivery. So I have another (different) cheap DMM for now. Oh wait, ok I guess I do agree with that statement! :-) 73 de Stephanie va3uxb K2#5311 - K1#2132 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] OT: Antenna Question
Harlan, Loops tend to couple well to other things within the loop. One problem you may experience running a loop around the eves of your house will be that you're antenna will pick up any noise sources within the house very well, and will couple very well to electronics in the house ... i.e. your telephones, stereo, etc. So if that's your best option for erecting an antenna, go for it .. but be aware you will probably pick up noise from any noisy appliances and may have problems with RFI. A full wave loop on 80 mtrs is about 275 feet. That would be a big house. jim AB4CZ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Report for January 22nd and 23rd, 2006
Good Evening, Forty meters was interesting just now. Tom was good copy before the net and then got weaker. Next check in was Ric from Ontario. Lately I've needed a relay to copy him. Tom tried next to no avail. I think his radio wave was dropping well into the Pacific and the Atlantic. Next I found a stray in Lousiana who came and then disappeared. Lastly I worked Lloyd in Maryland. I think my next station would have been in Europe by the way the band was changing! I went back to Tom only to get a 229 out of him before we exchanged goodbyes and he faded away. However, 20 meters netted us 15 check ins split almost evenly between Tom and I. There may have been a relay into Tom but I could not hear all the activity going on at his end. When he turned his beam sideways to me he almost disappeared. None the less it was fun to hear you all. Sounds like we are having a mild winter this year. Especially Rick's report from Phoenix :) Enough palaver, on to the lists. On 14050 kHz at 2250z: N0SS - Tom - MO - K2 - 008 K2HYD - Ray - VA - KX1 - 608 K4BEH - Pat - GA - K2 - 5061 KL7CW - Rick - AZ - KX1 - 798 Vacationing in sunny Phoenix KH6NO/M/W7 - Willie - NV - K2 - 1593 Wins longest callsign award ;) W1EUY - Dave - MA - K2 - 744 WU7R - Ci - MT - K2 - 4615 NN8K - Sonny - WV - K1 - 380 W4KD - Dave - FL - ?? - ?? NK6A - Don - CA - K2 - 1217 WA5ZNU - Leigh - CA - K2 - 3121 WB6KWT - Bob - CA - ?? - ?? W0QQS - Bruce - WI (I think) - K2 - 3646 KB0FB - Carl - IA - K1 - 2126 AB0JB - Don - CO - ?? - ?? On 7045 kHz at 0150z: N0SS - Tom - MO - K2 - 008 QNI #125!! Thanks for your help Tom. VE3XL - Ric - ON - K1 - 968 Great signal tonight! K1DW - Dallas - LA - ?? - ?? Fought for his call and then he faded out again. K3ESE - Lloyd - MD - K2 - 4442 Very good signal tonight. Where would the next station have popped up? Oh well, I called CQ a number of times but no reponse. Maybe in thirty minutes or so the band would have landed in the Azores or even Scotland. Currently (0252z) there is a strong CQ sig from KA0JNG. Looks like forty meters may be interesting this evening. Not too much noise either. Good DX folks! Somewhere or another between the two nets I split my thumb. Makes the dit paddle very slippery! Also made me flinch when I was forming characters. Not a happy state of affairs. I even used Ms. P's Nivea enriched hand stuff too. Maybe another application later will make coding and drafting less painless tomorrow. Oh and SPICE modelling too :) Thank you all for joining us and testing propagation. I need to work on my N-S antenna so I can work the folks down the coast better. However, looks like I would have been working Baja or Polynesia on 40 or maybe even Nunavut. As ever, if there are any errors or fills on the above lists do not hesitate to email me with the corrections. I'll add them to the database and mirror them here. Until next week, Kevin. KD5ONS (Net Control Operator 5th Class) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K2 communication problem
Up until recently I have been able to use my pc with my K2 S/N 4719. Now, I get communication errors when I try to use AC Log or Ham Radio Deluxe. I am using the KIO2 in the K2 and have the KPA100/KAT100 in an EC2 case, and all of this has been working great until about a week ago. I even tried removing the KIO2 and installing the KPA100 in the K2 case, using the comm port on the amp, and still can't connect to the pc. I tried using another computer, but still no comunications. Is there a setting in my menus that I'm overlooking that could have been inadvertently changed, preventing pc communications? Or do I need to do a reset on the K2 to correct this problem? I'm out of ideas. HELP!! 73, Mark Baugh W5EZY Grenada MS __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K2 communication problem
Mark, In the K2 menu PORT ON is about the only thing that you can do. Try Hyperterm as indicated in the KIO2 manual and see what happens - that can tell a lot about what is going on. Obvious questions: do you have the computer port parameters set correctly?, are you using the correct port? There is not really much that can be wrong - suspect the hardware last (especially since yo have the same results with the KIO2 and with the KPA100 interface. A Master Reset of the K2 is a brutal thing to do - lots of info such as the CAL PLL and CAL FIL information is lost, so use that only as a last resort. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- Up until recently I have been able to use my pc with my K2 S/N 4719. Now, I get communication errors when I try to use AC Log or Ham Radio Deluxe. I am using the KIO2 in the K2 and have the KPA100/KAT100 in an EC2 case, and all of this has been working great until about a week ago. I even tried removing the KIO2 and installing the KPA100 in the K2 case, using the comm port on the amp, and still can't connect to the pc. I tried using another computer, but still no comunications. Is there a setting in my menus that I'm overlooking that could have been inadvertently changed, preventing pc communications? Or do I need to do a reset on the K2 to correct this problem? I'm out of ideas. HELP!! 73, Mark Baugh W5EZY Grenada MS __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.14.21/236 - Release Date: 1/20/2006 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
