[Elecraft] Unable to config K3
I liked the new banner option and new calibration of TX method a lot, did not notice problems after installation but now I find I can't get to CONFIG on the K3. Tapping menu only gives me the MAIN options, even that behaves a bit erratic. Also no communication with K3 utility. K3 tells me I do not have a ATU, KXV3 and what not. Suggestions? Tnx, vy 73 Eric PA3CEV __ 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
[Elecraft] Sub RX audio in diversity changes when BSET is active
I'll throw this out for comment. I don't want to say it is an error since it may be per design. We know that in diversity the sub RX is tuned to the VFO A freq and VFO B can be set to another frequency. When I press the BSET button, the audio from the sub receiver changes from VFO A to VFO B. It's very evident with headphones. Audio from VFO A is still present in the left ear and the right ear now has audio from VFO B. (VFO B can also be retuned at this time). When I turn BSET off the right ear audio goes back to the VFO A diversity reception. I found this useful when using diversity and split at the same time. I had tried diversity and split before using the REV button but was not able to tune VFO B using that method. So maybe this is an undocumented feature. Mike K2MK __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Sub RX audio in diversity changes when BSET is active
K2MK wrote: I'll throw this out for comment. I don't want to say it is an error since it may be per design. We know that in diversity the sub RX is tuned to the VFO A freq and VFO B can be set to another frequency. When I press the BSET button, the audio from the sub receiver changes from VFO A to VFO B. It's very evident with headphones. Audio from VFO A is still present in the left ear and the right ear now has audio from VFO B. (VFO B can also be retuned at this time). When I turn BSET off the right ear audio goes back to the VFO A diversity reception. I found this useful when using diversity and split at the same time. I had tried diversity and split before using the REV button but was not able to tune VFO B using that method. So maybe this is an undocumented feature. Mike K2MK Right you are Mike! This would be a very simple way to toggle between diversity on DX and split for the pileup. Just tried it on FW5RE on 160 and it works great. The only potential problem is if you don't *hold* the A/B key for B SET, you'll exchange VFOs A and B. This may be easier than holding REV for some (which is how I do split in diversity now). Thanks for the tip! 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Sub-RX-audio-in-diversity-changes-when-BSET-is-active-tp2253632p2253671.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
[Elecraft] Unable to config K3 (fwd)
Eric I wonder if you have a serial/usb-serial link from your K3 to a computer? If you have may I suggest the following:- 1. Make sure you have the latest version of the K3 Utility program. 2. Make sure you have the latest release of the K3 Firmware. 3. Save your present K3 Configuration to the computer. If that works, then switch on your K3 while holding in the Norm control until you see init on the display. 4. Now press and hold the Menu button until you see the CONFIG:--- on the display. If that works then there may have been some corruption in you config settings. Try then to save back to the K3 your saved configuration. If having done that and holding the menu button no longer gets you into the cnfiguration menu, you will have to reset the K3 as above and manually re-configure all of your settings. 5. If the reset doesn't work then keeping the K3 attached to the computer, press and hold the power button for approx 10 secs. You should then see on the bottom left of the display MCU LOAD. Run the K3 utiliy program to download the latest firmware into the K3. That should fix the problem. I do hope that helps. Sorry it's such a long winded explanation. 73's Jennifer EI7GCB -- Forwarded message -- Message-Id: 200902011015.n11afkfs076...@smtp-vbr1.xs4all.nl Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:15:22 +0100 To: Ken K3IU k...@arrl.net, Elecraft@mailman.qth.net From: Eric pa3...@veron.nl Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Unable to config K3 At 11:03 1-2-2009, Ken K3IU wrote: G'morning Eric: Tapping the MENU button should put you in the MAIN menu. Press/Hold the MENU button should access on the CONFIG menu. No suggestions about the remaining problems. Good Luck! 73, Ken K3IU K3 #202 Holding the button doesn't work. __ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] UK Elecraft net report for Sunday 1st February
Fortunately the European QRM seemed to cause me more problems than the others and eventually subsided. We had a very lively and interesting discussion on several topics, these included: The K3 on AM with the later firmware (sounds OK and is tightly controlled on bandwidth at +/- 3KHz). K3 TX IMD figures, 120 Watts vs 100 Watts and the significant improvement when the power is reduced to 25 Watts. Determining the mod state of an early serial number K3 which came from an SK estate. Source of PowerSonic 1229 batteries for the K2, we couldn't find any in the UK. 5 MHz UK allocation and re-tuning the early K3s, also potential spurious problem on early serial K3s on 5 MHz - prior to the MK 2 driver and PA release around January 2008. Why some microphones sound rough? We had two stations who started the net with very poor audio but both fixed their microphone issues quickly. We also discussed our top three firmware issues for attention by Elecraft, these were: 1. SSB ALC not controlling the peak output well enough when running reduced power to drive a linear. 2. Not being able to adjust many of the controls on the K3 while transmitting. 3. A means of turning the EQ on/off without zeroing the settings, per mode would be a bonus as would an A or B setting (applied to TX and RX equaliser). We also thought it would be helpful if a roadmap of firmware development was released, so at least the user community would have an idea when a particular feature would be looked at, or implemented... I will post these separately to Wayne, Lyle and Eric for consideration. Stations this week were: G4DQP, Vince G0MJW, Mike G0VGS, Ian GM0ELP, Doug M0CIC, Roy GM3SEK, Ian M1PAF, Paul G4JTR, Vin 73 until next week Dave, G4AON K3/100 #80, Acom 1000, dipole __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K2] K2 battery source in UK
Well of course it's a question of convenience. It's neater and more compact to have the battery inside the K2. Also a major advantage of the battery for me is that it weights the K2 down on the desktop so it doesn't slide away when I push a button. However the main use it has had is when I forgot to turn the power supply on! I like the idea of operating /P but I dislike cold, wind and rain and that's what the weather is like most of the time here, so I have never taken advantage of the K2's portability. :( Although an external battery could provide more capacity, the K2's battery has greater capacity than the one in an FT-817 and the K2 draws much less power than an 817, especially on receive. It has more than enough capacity for a couple of hours operating. One should just take care not to run it down below a certain voltage, that's all. I made no special charging arrangements for mine, just connected the radio to a PSU adjusted to 14.2V. Julian, G4ILO G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com 2009/2/1 KBG Luxford kbgluxf...@fastmail.fm: I put a battery into one of the K2s that I assembled. I would not do it again for the reason that, as far as I am aware, these batteries are not designed for deep cycle operation. I think that to get the best life from SLA batteries, one should use a smart charger. With the use of an external battery, one can have a higher amp hour capacity for little more money - especially if one wants to be able to use modes in addition to CW. With a higher capacity external battery, the same amount of usage will not result in a lower degree of discharge - assuming you do not have recharge facilities or a solar panel in the field. Borrowing a philosophy from software engineering, let each module do but one task and do it well. FWIW 73 Kevin VK3DAP / ZL2DAP Julian, G4ILO wrote: Stephen Prior wrote: Hello Guy Yes, I had the same issue and that's what killed the battery for me. By the time I had realised and had increased my psu output voltage to 14.5V, unfortunately the damage had been done. Don W3FPR has some info on his website and has provided a separate charging input socket for his K2 and I might do just that. I bought my battery from Maplin.co.uk. They specify the dimensions so it should be easy enough to work out which one will fit. Incidentally my battery is still the original one that I fitted in 1999. I don't know how to test it's condition, but it holds at 11.8V on receive for longer than I could be bothered waiting. - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. http://www.g4ilo.com/ G4ILO's Shack http://www.ham-directory.com/ Ham Directoryhttp://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html KComm for Elecraft K2 and K3 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Diversity Reception, Matched Roofing Filters
Gary Smith wrote: I am wondering how I, without all those varieties of test gear can determine if indeed there is a significant offset that exists with the 8 pole filters in my K3 and if it exists to know how much it + or - it is. Feed the K3's audio into your pc's sound card and run a spectrum analysis program. Check for symmetry in the passband response around your sidetone frequency (cw filters). Observe while varying the offset. A small amount of asymmetry is no problem but it shouldn't be noticeably skewed to one side. (set K3 dsp width=filter width) 73, Barry N1EU -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3---Diversity-Reception%2C-Matched-Roofing-Filters-tp2251101p2253406.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Second Rx Filters
Julius, There is no one 'right way' - My opinion -- If you ever toggle the filters with the XFIL button, then having the filters in corresponding slots will be easier to remember - i.e, FL4 is the 400 Hz filter no matter whether the main or the sub. If you only use the DSP controls (width and shift or HI and LO cut), then the DSP will figure it out and there is no need to mentally remember which filter is in which slot. 73, Don W3FPR Julius Fazekas wrote: In preparation for installing the second Rx, I will have a wider selection of filters for the main Rx versus the second Rx. Should the same filters be placed in their corresponding slots on both? In my main, I'll have the 2.7, 1.0, 500, 400 and 250. The second will have the 2.7 and 400 only at this time. Thanks, Julius __ 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
[Elecraft] [K2] Battery found
For the information of others in the UK, I have found something suitable from Strikalight. It's 2.3Ah and cyclic so it should withstand a lot of charge discharge cycles. Furthermore it's only £16.20 including vat and post and packing. Thanks for all the advice offered. 73 Stephen G4SJP __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3- pace of development
They have also tried to improve the Ft-2000 via firmware upgrades. I would say the 2000 plus K3's sold have made a difference. I have a friend that just sold his 746pro and is selling his Ft-950. He will order a K3. He wanted me to trade him mine for his 2 rigs and some cash from him... Right. Randy K8RDD - Original Message - From: Don - K2PMC k2...@arrl.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 9:07 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3- pace of development Nick G3RWF wrote: Elecraft are brilliant in responding to customers' wishes/needs so I wonder if I am alone in wanting a little time to let current developments and firmware upgrades show their worth? Nick, On Page 86 of the February QST Yaesu Has announced performance enhancements for their very expensive FTDX9000. I am sure that the DX9000 owners are thrilled to know they are about to receive major mods free of charge. I wonder if Elecraft's rapid response with upgrades and bug fixes had anything to do with this? I'll bet Yaesu owners would love to have the problem you describe. As has been stated or implied in other responses, there's no need to implement any of the firmware changes if they don't affect the way you operate. I've had my K3 for almost a year now (SN #386) and I, for one have been extremely satisified with the rate and quantity of upgrades. I had been a user of another well known manufacturer and was lucky to get any attention paid to my requests. I would also like to comment on the response from Julian, G4ILO where he stated.. I think your concerns might be allayed if Elecraft were to do what a couple of developer types who I have had discussions with privately have suggested, namely publish a roadmap for firmware development. This is a hobby for us, and a great one, but for Eric and Wayne and all the others, it is not only a hobby but a business. I've been the head of a large corporation and the last thing I would do is provide my competition with a road map of where I plan to go and when I plan to get there. 73, Don K2PMC -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3---pace-of-development-tp2244953p2253869.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2 unadvertised feature ?
Thanks for taking the time to consider my problem, Don. Here's a few more observations. If the 8R line in the K2 goes low, it is because the K2 has entered the transmit state. You'd think so, but since the display does not show a frequency change between the receive state and the anomalous state when the RIT is on (and offset) this is not entirely the case. As a further thought, the driver for VRFDET on the K60XV is a tri-state driver and must have an enable input to drive the VRFDET line. if you do not have a transverter band selected on the K2, the input should be grounded by the K2 relay on the K60XV option. If you *do* have the K2 set to a transverter band and the low power output is selected, then yes, the RF input on the output line could be coupled back into the K2 bandpass filter - the obvious result should be receiver overload, but not changing into transmit state. I am thinking of the VRFDET detector in the K60XV, not the one on the K2 RF board, as the source of my problem. Its enable signal is the 6LP power supply to Q2/U2, which is on in both receive and transmit states. The VRFDET output from Q2 (P1-pin7) is about 0.4 V in receive and goes up to over 2 V when I transmit on 6m, so there is certainly RF being detected. In any case, when I switch to a transverter band which does not use the low power output (thus turning off the 6LP voltage), the problem goes away completely. I tried connecting the cliplead antenna to many points on the K60XV (with the cover off the K2), including XVTR IN, all 3 pins of Q1, P1-pin1 (currently fitted with an extra 4.7nF bypass to pin2), and the junction of D1 D2. The only one which resulted in the anomalous state was XVTR OUT. I'm thinking I should try the VRFDET detector diode on the K2 RF board, though. I would suggest that you work to reduce the stray RF energy in the shack, and if that is not possible, It really isn't practical in my apartment station or in the rover vehicle. Space limitations force operation close to the antennas. try ferrite cores on all inputs to the K2 including the power connection. In this simplified K2-only test configuration the only connections to the K2 are the pickup antenna to the XVTR OUT and the power connection, and the power lead does in fact have a clip-on ferrite choke in use for this testing, which ought to do something at 50 MHz. Try running the K2 and the 6 meter transmitter from different power supplies, The power supplies (at the home station) both plug into the same AC power bar, but otherwise the 6m setup is completely separate. and/or try bonding the other transmitter to the K2 to see if there is any difference. Often slight ground potential differences can cause strange happenings. Agreed. I have tried various different ground connections, and different sensitivities to the RF fields result, presumably due to different RF potentials on the K2 case compared to that on the XVTR OUT jack. But there was no magic cure, so far. And this situation will be completely different in the car, anyway...I need to find a more robust solution. I am thinking of perhaps some sort of bandpass or low pass filter in the TX IF line, though the design is complicated by the fact that the terminating impedances aren't all 50 ohms. 73, Steve VE3SMA __ Instant Messaging, free SMS, sharing photos and more... Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger at http://ca.beta.messenger.yahoo.com/ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Second Rx Filters
I'd recommend descending width, widest at FL1... I personally find it tidier to line things up. I'd put the 2.7 in FL1 and the 400 in FL4 in the sub if it were my radio. But you can just as easily put the 400 Hz filter in FL2 in the sub. As long as you set the filter configuration to match physical reality either should work fine. There are fewer surprises due to missed configuration settings if FL1 contains a filter. After EE INIT (should you ever need to do this), the sub Rx will be configured for a 2.7 kHz filter at FL1. It might be comforting if that just works before you reconfigure filters after an EE INIT. Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Julius Fazekas Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 6:14 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Second Rx Filters In preparation for installing the second Rx, I will have a wider selection of filters for the main Rx versus the second Rx. Should the same filters be placed in their corresponding slots on both? In my main, I'll have the 2.7, 1.0, 500, 400 and 250. The second will have the 2.7 and 400 only at this time. Thanks, Julius Julius Fazekas N2WN Tennessee Contest Group TnQP http://www.tnqp.org/ Elecraft K2/100 #4455 Elecraft K3/100 #366 __ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] Second Rx Filters
In preparation for installing the second Rx, I will have a wider selection of filters for the main Rx versus the second Rx. Should the same filters be placed in their corresponding slots on both? In my main, I'll have the 2.7, 1.0, 500, 400 and 250. The second will have the 2.7 and 400 only at this time. Thanks, Julius Julius Fazekas N2WN Tennessee Contest Group TnQP http://www.tnqp.org/ Elecraft K2/100 #4455 Elecraft K3/100 #366 __ 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
[Elecraft] K3 AM reception
I've been reading a thread on another email reflector about the K3's audio response on AM. One of the reflector participants is a serious SWBC listener and is very dissatisfied with his K3's AM audio. He has pointed out a few things about the K3 AM response which puzzle me. Here they are: My K3 sounds the same as others I've heard which I consider to be absolutely terrible when using an external speaker and beyond absolutely terrible when using the internal speaker! The 6KHz roofing filter in the K3 will provide an audio bandwidth of up to 3KHz and the FM 13KHz roofing filter will enable the DSP to provide the user with an audio bandwidth of approximately 4.5KHz I've been told by Elecraft. He also says that Re the bandwidth, a short time ago Elecraft made a mod to the firmware so that audio bandwidth and not IF bandwidth was displayed on the K3's screen. If you're seeing 5KHz and you don't have FM filter installed then it sounds like yet another bug. His particular complaint is audio clicks on AM when hard consonants (Ts, Ks, etc) are spoken, a problem that he says has been confirmed by other users. He has installed all the audio mods in his radio, but they didn't fix the problem. This was all news to me. I've not used my K3 extensively on AM, and maybe my ears aren't as sensitive as his, but I've not noticed any problem. I have the 6 kHz roofing filter in my radio, and the DSP BW goes up to 5 kHz, which he says is a bug, and that the actual BW is only 3kHz. So my questions are: (1) Is audio distortion on AM a known problem with the K3? (2) What does the LCD BW actually read? Is it an IF BW, an audio BW, or what, and does the displayed BW actually corresond to reality? Tnx, Jim W8ZR __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2 unadvertised feature ?
Steve, The VRFDET is secondary. If the 8R voltage rail is going low, the K2 is either going into transmit state or the microprocessor is dropping its RX output. The control for 8R is on the K2 Control Board - Q2 and Q4. Check the gate of Q4 to see if the voltage there drops - that causes 8R to drop. Also check the state of the TX signal from the microprocessor (gate of Q3) - if that signal is above 3 volts and the RX signal is zero, the K2 is definitely in transmit state, whatever the cause. The K60XV uses the 8R input dropping to switch its circuits from receive to transmit, and will produce energy at the output - it is operating into an open load (your wire antenna), and as a result, VRFDET will become quite high because the output is measured assuming a 50 ohm load on that K60XV low power output. Put a piece of coax on the transverter output terminated in 50 ohms and see if the behavior continues - that should simulate normal operating conditions better than your wire. If the behavior continues with the coax attached, you will have to find how the signal is being coupled into the K2. If you find the microprocessor TX output on and RX off, then I would look at possible coupliing from the PTT input or the paddle input (the PTT and DOT paddle lines are the same inside the K2), and RF coupling into them could induce 'strange happenings' even though the DC voltages may be close to the normal 5 volt level. My guess that the PTT input may be the culprit is only a guess, but it is possible for severe noise (high RF levels) on the PTT line to cause the microprocessor to become 'mixed up'. 73, Don W3FPR Steve Kavanagh wrote: Thanks for taking the time to consider my problem, Don. Here's a few more observations. If the 8R line in the K2 goes low, it is because the K2 has entered the transmit state. You'd think so, but since the display does not show a frequency change between the receive state and the anomalous state when the RIT is on (and offset) this is not entirely the case. As a further thought, the driver for VRFDET on the K60XV is a tri-state driver and must have an enable input to drive the VRFDET line. if you do not have a transverter band selected on the K2, the input should be grounded by the K2 relay on the K60XV option. If you *do* have the K2 set to a transverter band and the low power output is selected, then yes, the RF input on the output line could be coupled back into the K2 bandpass filter - the obvious result should be receiver overload, but not changing into transmit state. I am thinking of the VRFDET detector in the K60XV, not the one on the K2 RF board, as the source of my problem. Its enable signal is the 6LP power supply to Q2/U2, which is on in both receive and transmit states. The VRFDET output from Q2 (P1-pin7) is about 0.4 V in receive and goes up to over 2 V when I transmit on 6m, so there is certainly RF being detected. In any case, when I switch to a transverter band which does not use the low power output (thus turning off the 6LP voltage), the problem goes away completely. I tried connecting the cliplead antenna to many points on the K60XV (with the cover off the K2), including XVTR IN, all 3 pins of Q1, P1-pin1 (currently fitted with an extra 4.7nF bypass to pin2), and the junction of D1 D2. The only one which resulted in the anomalous state was XVTR OUT. I'm thinking I should try the VRFDET detector diode on the K2 RF board, though. I would suggest that you work to reduce the stray RF energy in the shack, and if that is not possible, It really isn't practical in my apartment station or in the rover vehicle. Space limitations force operation close to the antennas. try ferrite cores on all inputs to the K2 including the power connection. In this simplified K2-only test configuration the only connections to the K2 are the pickup antenna to the XVTR OUT and the power connection, and the power lead does in fact have a clip-on ferrite choke in use for this testing, which ought to do something at 50 MHz. Try running the K2 and the 6 meter transmitter from different power supplies, The power supplies (at the home station) both plug into the same AC power bar, but otherwise the 6m setup is completely separate. and/or try bonding the other transmitter to the K2 to see if there is any difference. Often slight ground potential differences can cause strange happenings. Agreed. I have tried various different ground connections, and different sensitivities to the RF fields result, presumably due to different RF potentials on the K2 case compared to that on the XVTR OUT jack. But there was no magic cure, so far. And this situation will be completely different in the car, anyway...I need to find a more robust solution. I am thinking of perhaps some sort of bandpass or low pass filter in the TX
Re: [Elecraft] K3- pace of development
Don - K2PMC wrote: On Page 86 of the February QST Yaesu Has announced performance enhancements for their very expensive FTDX9000. I am sure that the DX9000 owners are thrilled to know they are about to receive major mods free of charge. I wonder if Elecraft's rapid response with upgrades and bug fixes had anything to do with this? I'll bet Yaesu owners would love to have the problem you describe. I suspect it has more to do with not wanting third parties coming up with fixes for design flaws in their flagship HF transceivers anymore, ala FT-1000D/MP/MP MkV roofing filters and key click mods. I'll bet Inrad has made a mint on the FT-1000 roofing filter kits. Could also be people who spent $12K on a rig get a little upset when it doesn't perform as well as one which cost 1/3 that amount. There's no doubt in my mind that Yaesu wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for the K3 and Flex5K. This is a hobby for us, and a great one, but for Eric and Wayne and all the others, it is not only a hobby but a business. I've been the head of a large corporation and the last thing I would do is provide my competition with a road map of where I plan to go and when I plan to get there. EXACTLY!! It might make a few on the reflector feel good but would be giving away a serious business advantage. When your competitors are bigger, with bigger R+D resources, it would be foolish to tell them where you're going, how you're going to get there, and when you expect to arrive. -- R. Kevin Stover, ACØH __ 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
[Elecraft] XV432 shuts down when K3 PTT is hit
I have a recently assembled XV432 interfaced with my K3 and I am finding that about 50% of the time I close the PTT on the K3, the XV432 turns off. Anybody have some insight on this problem? Thanks. 73, Ed K1TR __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AM reception
Jim, My K3's receiver also works and sounds great on AM. I have probably spent more time listening to AM broadcast with it than anything else thus far. I use my old Yaesu SP-8 external speaker and it sounds very good to me - and I have tried cranking it up pretty loud, and I hear no distortion at all - certainly none of the clicking. I have tried all AGC options also - no difference. I have the 6 kHz filter. Given the comments I saw here before I got my K3, and knowing that casual AM bcst listening is something I do pretty regularly, I was a bit worried about the K3's performance on AM. 73, Bob W5OV -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jim Garland Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 9:08 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 AM reception I've been reading a thread on another email reflector about the K3's audio response on AM. One of the reflector participants is a serious SWBC listener and is very dissatisfied with his K3's AM audio. He has pointed out a few things about the K3 AM response which puzzle me. Here they are: My K3 sounds the same as others I've heard which I consider to be absolutely terrible when using an external speaker and beyond absolutely terrible when using the internal speaker! The 6KHz roofing filter in the K3 will provide an audio bandwidth of up to 3KHz and the FM 13KHz roofing filter will enable the DSP to provide the user with an audio bandwidth of approximately 4.5KHz I've been told by Elecraft. He also says that Re the bandwidth, a short time ago Elecraft made a mod to the firmware so that audio bandwidth and not IF bandwidth was displayed on the K3's screen. If you're seeing 5KHz and you don't have FM filter installed then it sounds like yet another bug. His particular complaint is audio clicks on AM when hard consonants (Ts, Ks, etc) are spoken, a problem that he says has been confirmed by other users. He has installed all the audio mods in his radio, but they didn't fix the problem. This was all news to me. I've not used my K3 extensively on AM, and maybe my ears aren't as sensitive as his, but I've not noticed any problem. I have the 6 kHz roofing filter in my radio, and the DSP BW goes up to 5 kHz, which he says is a bug, and that the actual BW is only 3kHz. So my questions are: (1) Is audio distortion on AM a known problem with the K3? (2) What does the LCD BW actually read? Is it an IF BW, an audio BW, or what, and does the displayed BW actually corresond to reality? Tnx, Jim W8ZR __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3- pace of development
Don - K2PMC wrote: I would also like to comment on the response from Julian, G4ILO where he stated.. I think your concerns might be allayed if Elecraft were to do what a couple of developer types who I have had discussions with privately have suggested, namely publish a roadmap for firmware development. This is a hobby for us, and a great one, but for Eric and Wayne and all the others, it is not only a hobby but a business. I've been the head of a large corporation and the last thing I would do is provide my competition with a road map of where I plan to go and when I plan to get there. I find this response baffling. Providing a road map of future development is exactly what major software companies like Microsoft, IBM etc. do, and I guess they have a lot more at stake than Elecraft. The idea is to give customers the confidence to invest in the product, especially where they may be interested in features that are in the pipeline but not yet available. Frankly I don't think anything that would be divulged in such a road map is any great secret. It's basically about letting people know when the K3 will work in every respect as one would expect. For example, AM does not currently have the option of speech compression due to an issue that Elecraft has not yet found the time to work on. Letting people know when this issue is going to be fixed is not going to be giving away any trade secrets. - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. http://www.g4ilo.com/ G4ILO's Shack http://www.ham-directory.com/ Ham Directoryhttp://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html KComm for Elecraft K2 and K3 -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3---pace-of-development-tp2244953p2254074.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K2] K2 battery source in UK
I think several suppliers do suitable batteries. It is important they don't leak. I find my K2 battery to be quite heavy for packing on trips abroad. Since the time the K2 battery was designed, possibly better options have become available. Lithium Ion (with appropriate charging) NiMH. It should not be too hard to fit a 2AH NiMH pack for example, but Lithium Ion notebook packs might be the way forward. It is something I intend to look into doing some time. Mike Julian, G4ILO wrote: Stephen Prior wrote: Hello Guy Yes, I had the same issue and that's what killed the battery for me. By the time I had realised and had increased my psu output voltage to 14.5V, unfortunately the damage had been done. Don W3FPR has some info on his website and has provided a separate charging input socket for his K2 and I might do just that. I bought my battery from Maplin.co.uk. They specify the dimensions so it should be easy enough to work out which one will fit. Incidentally my battery is still the original one that I fitted in 1999. I don't know how to test it's condition, but it holds at 11.8V on receive for longer than I could be bothered waiting. -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Re%3A-K2-battery-source-in-UK-tp2250991p2253481.html Sent from the [K2] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Unable to config K3
Eric I wonder if you have a serial/usb-serial link from your K3 to a computer? If you have may I suggest the following:- 1. Make sure you have the latest version of the K3 Utility program. 2. Make sure you have the latest release of the K3 Firmware. 3. Save your present K3 Configuration to the computer. If that works, then switch on your K3 while holding in the Norm control until you see init on the display. 4. Now press and hold the Menu button until you see the CONFIG:--- on the display. If that works then there may have been some corruption in you config settings. Try then to save back to the K3 your saved configuration. If having done that and holding the menu button no longer gets you into the cnfiguration menu, you will have to reset the K3 as above and manually re-configure all of your settings. 5. If the reset doesn't work then keeping the K3 attached to the computer, press and hold the power button for approx 10 secs. You should then see on the bottom left of the display MCU LOAD. Run the K3 utiliy program to download the latest firmware into the K3. That should fix the problem. I do hope that helps. Sorry it's such a long winded explanation. 73's Jennifer EI7GCB 1: I do 2: I had 2.78 which worked fine displaying some vanity banner on startup and wanted to upgrade to 2.8 3: After installing 2.78 a few weeks ago I did 4: Pressing, tapping, holding, nothing can persuade my K3 to go in config mode, tried initializing again holding shift/lo/norm together with power on to no avail. 5: K3 goes to MCU load mode, but utility still can't communicate Since I normally use this Prolific USB-serial thingy which caused some problems in the past I even made a RS232 cable to hard-wire K3 and PC. Even this doesn't work, so I'm starting to think there's more to it then i had hoped for. Thanks Eric PA3CEV __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Unable to config K3
Eric I wonder if you have a serial/usb-serial link from your K3 to a computer? If you have may I suggest the following:- 1. Make sure you have the latest version of the K3 Utility program. 2. Make sure you have the latest release of the K3 Firmware. 3. Save your present K3 Configuration to the computer. If that works, then switch on your K3 while holding in the Norm control until you see init on the display. 4. Now press and hold the Menu button until you see the CONFIG:--- on the display. If that works then there may have been some corruption in you config settings. Try then to save back to the K3 your saved configuration. If having done that and holding the menu button no longer gets you into the cnfiguration menu, you will have to reset the K3 as above and manually re-configure all of your settings. 5. If the reset doesn't work then keeping the K3 attached to the computer, press and hold the power button for approx 10 secs. You should then see on the bottom left of the display MCU LOAD. Run the K3 utiliy program to download the latest firmware into the K3. That should fix the problem. I do hope that helps. Sorry it's such a long winded explanation. 73's Jennifer EI7GCB 1: I do 2: I had 2.78 which worked fine displaying some vanity banner on startup and wanted to upgrade to 2.8 3: After installing 2.78 a few weeks ago I did 4: Pressing, tapping, holding, nothing can persuade my K3 to go in config mode, tried initializing again holding shift/lo/norm together with power on to no avail. 5: K3 goes to MCU load mode, but utility still can't communicate Since I normally use this Prolific USB-serial thingy which caused some problems in the past I even made a RS232 cable to hard-wire K3 and PC. Even this doesn't work, so I'm starting to think there's more to it then i had hoped for. Thanks Eric PA3CEV __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 problems
Julius Fazekas n2wn wrote: I've had a number of things crop up since trying to get on RTTY. There may be no link to trying to get the rig going on FSK, and the issues are noted in CW mode (my primary activity). There have been several one-time error messages. The most recent one being: E 0444A7 ERR DSE. I've received overtemp warnings on 160, even though I had not been transmitting on the first key down. I've checked the PS, one that I've been using for years. It is metered and the output voltage does not waver. I've checked it with a Fluke in Rx and Tx, and it reads 13.4VDC/13.3VDC respectively. The K3 internal meter reads 13.3 and 12.2! That doesn't seem right. Also, I seem to have lost control of my RF Gain pot. It does not function in AGC, either F or S. Sometimes I can get it to work in AGC-OFF, cycling the radio on and of seems to place it back in the non-functioning mode as does changing bands. I've put all of the AGC settings back to factory default. Same problem. I'm using the last official firmware release 2.78 and whatever the associated DSP firmware was. It might be something blatantly obvious, but I'm missing it. Any suggestions before I go batty? Thanks, Julius Wanted to put the second Rx in, but with this weirdness, I'm holding off. Have you tried a complete reload, either of the same firmware or the previous version you were using? - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. http://www.g4ilo.com/ G4ILO's Shack http://www.ham-directory.com/ Ham Directoryhttp://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html KComm for Elecraft K2 and K3 -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-problems-tp2253876p2254121.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3- pace of development
Julian, G4ILO wrote: I find this response baffling. Providing a road map of future development is exactly what major software companies like Microsoft, IBM etc. do, and I guess they have a lot more at stake than Elecraft. The idea is to give customers the confidence to invest in the product, especially where they may be interested in features that are in the pipeline but not yet available. Frankly I don't think anything that would be divulged in such a road map is any great secret. It's basically about letting people know when the K3 will work in every respect as one would expect. For example, AM does not currently have the option of speech compression due to an issue that Elecraft has not yet found the time to work on. Letting people know when this issue is going to be fixed is not going to be giving away any trade secrets. Very big difference between Microsoft and Elecraft. Microsoft for all intents and purposes has NO competition. They're attitude is this is where we're going, whether you like it or not and they're market share and installed base are big enough to let them get away with it. You don't think the R and D departments at Yaesu, Kenwood, and Icom wouldn't love to know what Elecraft plans are for development in the next year? The K3 caught all three of them with their pants around their ankles and they've been playing catch up (not very well) since. I hear that Kenwood is getting back into the high performance HF market again. We'll see if they've learned any lessons from the last ten years of being on the sidelines. -- R. Kevin Stover, ACØH __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 LINE Out mixes KRX3 and main output?
The microKeyer II, for example, has the Master control grayed out but the left and right channels are independently adjustable. Correct, microKEYER II uses the Micronas UAC2556B codec which has independent left and right attenuators for the line input. Some operating system drivers show them as independent controls while some map them as a gain/balance pair. The Micronas also has a single channel (left channel in the USB data stream) mic input. My digiKeyer uses the Burr-Brown PCM2902; when using Core Audio, there is no master, left nor right controls. All DigiKeyers use the TI (Burr-Brown) PCM2902 CODEC. The TI has a single dual channel audio input. There are no electronic level controls on the input (chip design). I'm not aware of on-chip attenuators on any of the TI/BB USB products. 73, ... Joe, W4TV -Original Message- From: Kok Chen [mailto:c...@mac.com] Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 12:40 AM To: Elecraft Reflector Cc: Leigh L. Klotz, Jr WA5ZNU; li...@subich.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 LINE Out mixes KRX3 and main output? On Jan 31, 2009, at 9:16 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: For the device in question, Griffin iMic, this doesn't seem to be the case. It does not separate enumerations for independently setting left and right input gain. It does support stereo input, just not two mic/line gain controls. I don't know about the iMic - Chen would though. It depends on the generation of the Griffin Technology iMic. I have three generations of iMic, dating back from more than 5 years ago. The are the grey disk shaped ones, not the current-generation white ones. The oldest one had a 20 bit input codec, with no digital attenuator, no left, no right, no Master. The next generation is also 20 bits, but it has independent left and right attenuators (as seen from Core Audio -- I don't use Port Audio), but no master attenuator. Both of the above have 20 bit codecs in them, but uses the USB Audio Interface class and you can only see 16 bits (they don't need special drivers, but you also don't see 20 bits, HI). After that (and I believe it is true with the white bodied ones) they went to a 16 bit codec. Mine (still a gray body) only has a master level control but no individual left and right controls. If you are using Mac OS X, the easiest thing is to launch the Audio MIDI Setup utility that is in /Applications/Utilities. Audio MIDI Setup also uses Core Audio. There are three slider associated with each sound card's volume, a Master slider, and channels 1 (left) and 2 (right). If a control is not available, it will be grayed out. The microKeyer II, for example, has the Master control grayed out but the left and right channels are independently adjustable. My digiKeyer uses the Burr-Brown PCM2902; when using Core Audio, there is no master, left nor right controls. 73 Chen, W7AY __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Digest, Vol 58, Issue 1 K2 replacement battery
Hello Steven, Have you looked on Strikalite's web site as they do a range of batteries for all types of equipment including sealed lead acid. 73 de Barry G4DBS elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net wrote: Send Elecraft mailing list submissions to elecraft@mailman.qth.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net You can reach the person managing the list at elecraft-ow...@mailman.qth.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than Re: Contents of Elecraft digest... Today's Topics: 1. Re: K3 Sub Rx idea (Milt, N5IA) 2. Re: SHIFT pitch (wayne burdick) 3. K2 - Extra part - diode? (djmd) 4. Re: K3 - diversity reception question (wayne burdick) 5. Re: K2 - Extra part - diode? (djmd) 6. Elecraft SSB Net Announcement (Phil and Christina) 7. K3 BUFFER MOD? (Bill Maddock) 8. How2 K2 as RX with TS-450 as TX ? (Sam Morgan) 9. Re: K3 Sub Rx idea (Bill W4ZV) 10. [K2} K2 battery source in UK (Stephen Prior) 11. Re: How2 K2 as RX with TS-450 as TX ? (Dave G4AON) 12. Re: [K2] K2 battery source in UK (Dave G4AON) 13. Re: K3 Sub Rx idea (David Ferrington, M0XDF) 14. K3 (Gerd OE3GSA) 15. Re: K3 BUFFER MOD? (Doug Joyce) 16. Re: [K2] K2 battery source in UK (Stephen Prior) 17. Re: K3 BUFFER MOD? (Richard Ferch) 18. Re: [K2] K2 battery source in UK (Dave G4AON) 19. Re: [K2] K2 battery source in UK (Guy Olinger, K2AV) 20. K3 - Diversity Reception, Matched Roofing Filters (Walter V. Gilles) 21. Re: K3 Sub Rx idea (Bill W4ZV) 22. Re: K3 LINE Out mixes KRX3 and main output? (Joe Subich, W4TV) 23. Re: [K2] K2 battery source in UK (Stephen Prior) 24. Re: K3 - Diversity Reception, Matched Roofing Filters (Bill W4ZV) 25. Re: K3 BUFFER MOD? (Bill W4ZV) 26. Fw: [K1] SN 2682 is borne (Steve M0ECS (subs)) 27. Re: K3 - Diversity Reception, Matched Roofing Filters (W0MU Mike Fatchett) 28. Re: K3 - Diversity Reception, Matched Roofing Filters (Don Wilhelm) 29. K3 and Codan antenna (Ron - PE8E) 30. Re: Impossible mission? USB with the 13khz filter for PSK31on Digipan (Joe Subich, W4TV) 31. Re: Impossible mission? USB with the 13khz filter for PSK31on Digipan (Joe Subich, W4TV) 32. Re: K3 LINE Out mixes KRX3 and main output? (Leigh L. Klotz, Jr WA5ZNU) 33. [K2} Headphone jack dead? (kg3vt...@gmail.com) 34. Re: K3 - Diversity Reception, Matched Roofing Filters (Gary Smith) 35. Re: [K2} Headphone jack dead? (Don Wilhelm) 36. Elecraft CW Net Announcement (Kevin Rock) 37. K2 unadvertised feature ? (Steve Kavanagh) 38. Re: K2 unadvertised feature ? (Don Wilhelm) 39. KPA3 Heatsink PA MOSFET (Jeff Wandling W7BRS) 40. Re: K3 LINE Out mixes KRX3 and main output? (Joe Subich, W4TV) 41. Re: K3 LINE Out mixes KRX3 and main output? (Kok Chen) 42. Re: KPA3 Heatsink PA MOSFET (David Pratt) 43. Unable to config K3 (Eric) 44. Re: Unable to config K3 (Eric) 45. Re: [K2] K2 battery source in UK (Julian, G4ILO) 46. Re: K3 - Diversity Reception, Matched Roofing Filters (Barry N1EU) 47. Re: [K2] K2 battery source in UK (AD6XY) 48. Re: [K2] K2 battery source in UK (Julian G4ILO) 49. Sub RX audio in diversity changes when BSET is active (K2MK) 50. Re: Sub RX audio in diversity changes when BSET is active (Bill W4ZV) -- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 10:23:47 -0700 From: Milt, N5IA n...@zia-connection.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Sub Rx idea To: wayne burdick n...@elecraft.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net, m...@paxsen.com Message-ID: d530ef37c9bb433d811f419def5ed...@milt Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1; reply-type=original GM Wayne, I understand A/B and the swap per AB2TC's comment. But there are some of the settings which do not follow. I know you know and will address them if at all possible. It was just my dos centavos thrown into the pile. 73, and thanks de Milt, N5IA - Original Message - From: wayne burdick n...@elecraft.com To: Milt, N5IA n...@zia-connection.com Cc: m...@paxsen.com; Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2009 9:55 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Sub Rx idea I'm gradually weeding out commands that don't work in BSET mode. Until then, you might want to do A/B, change the setup, then A/B again. 73, Wayne N6KR On Jan 31, 2009, at 6:40 AM, Milt, N5IA wrote: Wayne, The most undesireable aspect of BSET is the fact that the communication with the computer is interrupted. The logging program dispays a pop-up window indicating lost communication if BSET
Re: [Elecraft] K3- pace of development
Nick G3RWF wrote: Elecraft are brilliant in responding to customers' wishes/needs so I wonder if I am alone in wanting a little time to let current developments and firmware upgrades show their worth? Nick, On Page 86 of the February QST Yaesu Has announced performance enhancements for their very expensive FTDX9000. I am sure that the DX9000 owners are thrilled to know they are about to receive major mods free of charge. I wonder if Elecraft's rapid response with upgrades and bug fixes had anything to do with this? I'll bet Yaesu owners would love to have the problem you describe. As has been stated or implied in other responses, there's no need to implement any of the firmware changes if they don't affect the way you operate. I've had my K3 for almost a year now (SN #386) and I, for one have been extremely satisified with the rate and quantity of upgrades. I had been a user of another well known manufacturer and was lucky to get any attention paid to my requests. I would also like to comment on the response from Julian, G4ILO where he stated.. I think your concerns might be allayed if Elecraft were to do what a couple of developer types who I have had discussions with privately have suggested, namely publish a roadmap for firmware development. This is a hobby for us, and a great one, but for Eric and Wayne and all the others, it is not only a hobby but a business. I've been the head of a large corporation and the last thing I would do is provide my competition with a road map of where I plan to go and when I plan to get there. 73, Don K2PMC -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3---pace-of-development-tp2244953p2253869.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Unable to config K3
At 11:03 1-2-2009, Ken K3IU wrote: G'morning Eric: Tapping the MENU button should put you in the MAIN menu. Press/Hold the MENU button should access on the CONFIG menu. No suggestions about the remaining problems. Good Luck! 73, Ken K3IU K3 #202 Holding the button doesn't work. __ 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
[Elecraft] K3 problems
I've had a number of things crop up since trying to get on RTTY. There may be no link to trying to get the rig going on FSK, and the issues are noted in CW mode (my primary activity). There have been several one-time error messages. The most recent one being: E 0444A7 ERR DSE. I've received overtemp warnings on 160, even though I had not been transmitting on the first key down. I've checked the PS, one that I've been using for years. It is metered and the output voltage does not waver. I've checked it with a Fluke in Rx and Tx, and it reads 13.4VDC/13.3VDC respectively. The K3 internal meter reads 13.3 and 12.2! That doesn't seem right. Also, I seem to have lost control of my RF Gain pot. It does not function in AGC, either F or S. Sometimes I can get it to work in AGC-OFF, cycling the radio on and of seems to place it back in the non-functioning mode as does changing bands. I've put all of the AGC settings back to factory default. Same problem. I'm using the last official firmware release 2.78 and whatever the associated DSP firmware was. It might be something blatantly obvious, but I'm missing it. Any suggestions before I go batty? Thanks, Julius Wanted to put the second Rx in, but with this weirdness, I'm holding off. Julius Fazekas N2WN Tennessee Contest Group TnQP http://www.tnqp.org/ Elecraft K2/100 #4455 Elecraft K3/100 #366 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K2] K2 battery source in UK
Stephen Prior wrote: Hello Guy Yes, I had the same issue and that's what killed the battery for me. By the time I had realised and had increased my psu output voltage to 14.5V, unfortunately the damage had been done. Don W3FPR has some info on his website and has provided a separate charging input socket for his K2 and I might do just that. I bought my battery from Maplin.co.uk. They specify the dimensions so it should be easy enough to work out which one will fit. Incidentally my battery is still the original one that I fitted in 1999. I don't know how to test it's condition, but it holds at 11.8V on receive for longer than I could be bothered waiting. - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. http://www.g4ilo.com/ G4ILO's Shack http://www.ham-directory.com/ Ham Directoryhttp://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html KComm for Elecraft K2 and K3 -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Re%3A-K2-battery-source-in-UK-tp2250991p2253377.html Sent from the [K2] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2 unadvertised feature ?
Don: Thanks for the quick reply ! I'd reply off list with the nitty gritty details but I did have a request from another interested ham to make the results public. I have now put together a much more controlled test setup for the K2 that doesn't involve high levels of RF all over the shack ! I now have a low power crystal oscillator/multiplier source at about 146 MHz (which puts about 0.5 mW into a 50 ohm load) connected to the XVTR OUT jack connected in parallel with a 50 ohm load using a BNC Tee just behind the rear panel. This reliably reproduced the observed effects (KEY OUT going to ground, receiver quiet and S-meter to maximum), and simulates the loading effect of having a transverter connected. Check the gate of Q4 to see if the voltage there drops - that causes 8R to drop. Yes it does drop when I key the 146 MHz test source, and the collector of Q2 (8R) does too. Also check the state of the TX signal from the microprocessor (gate of Q3) That voltage remains unchanged at approximately zero volts, as does the collector of Q1 (8T). So clearly the K2 is switching into an odd state. My guess that the PTT input may be the culprit is only a guess, but it is possible for severe noise (high RF levels) on the PTT line to cause the microprocessor to become 'mixed up'. If the K2 is in CW mode it does not start sending dots, so the PTT line is not going low. Which doesn't mean it doesn't have RF on it, but we are now talking about a pretty low level (500 microwatts) of generally shielded RF so I would be surprised if stray coupling to the PTT line would be the culprit. Back to head scratching. 73, Steve VE3SMA __ Instant Messaging, free SMS, sharing photos and more... Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger at http://ca.beta.messenger.yahoo.com/ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AM reception
Jim, He also says that Re the bandwidth, a short time ago Elecraft made a mod to the firmware so that audio bandwidth and not IF bandwidth was displayed on the K3's screen. If you're seeing 5KHz and you don't have FM filter installed then it sounds like yet another bug. This isn't a bug. The DSP bandwidth is simply wider than the IF filter. In practice the user will see audio out to 4 KHz or so at a reduced level following the filter skirts. (2) What does the LCD BW actually read? Is it an IF BW, an audio BW, or what, and does the displayed BW actually corresond to reality? For wide modes the best way to display the bandwidth is LO/HI. Those are the numbers that correspond to the real world. If you are looking at FC/BW, the BW number will be 2 * (HI-FC). Where FC is less than HI/2, BW will typically be overstated. In AM for example, NORM is BW=5.00 and FC=1.50. If you toggle to the LO/HI display you will find it showing LO=0.00 and HI=4.00. Most users would consider that to be BW=4.00. It is most convenient to consider that (other than in CW) the the audio DSP limits are FC=2.20, HI=4.20. 73, ... Joe, W4TV -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jim Garland Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 10:08 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 AM reception I've been reading a thread on another email reflector about the K3's audio response on AM. One of the reflector participants is a serious SWBC listener and is very dissatisfied with his K3's AM audio. He has pointed out a few things about the K3 AM response which puzzle me. Here they are: My K3 sounds the same as others I've heard which I consider to be absolutely terrible when using an external speaker and beyond absolutely terrible when using the internal speaker! The 6KHz roofing filter in the K3 will provide an audio bandwidth of up to 3KHz and the FM 13KHz roofing filter will enable the DSP to provide the user with an audio bandwidth of approximately 4.5KHz I've been told by Elecraft. He also says that Re the bandwidth, a short time ago Elecraft made a mod to the firmware so that audio bandwidth and not IF bandwidth was displayed on the K3's screen. If you're seeing 5KHz and you don't have FM filter installed then it sounds like yet another bug. His particular complaint is audio clicks on AM when hard consonants (Ts, Ks, etc) are spoken, a problem that he says has been confirmed by other users. He has installed all the audio mods in his radio, but they didn't fix the problem. This was all news to me. I've not used my K3 extensively on AM, and maybe my ears aren't as sensitive as his, but I've not noticed any problem. I have the 6 kHz roofing filter in my radio, and the DSP BW goes up to 5 kHz, which he says is a bug, and that the actual BW is only 3kHz. So my questions are: (1) Is audio distortion on AM a known problem with the K3? (2) What does the LCD BW actually read? Is it an IF BW, an audio BW, or what, and does the displayed BW actually corresond to reality? Tnx, Jim W8ZR __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 problems
Hi Julian, I've tried that once... Is there a reset to factory default option? I don't suspect it's the firmware load, but it's worth trying again. Cheers, Julius Julian, G4ILO wrote: Julius Fazekas n2wn wrote: I've had a number of things crop up since trying to get on RTTY. There may be no link to trying to get the rig going on FSK, and the issues are noted in CW mode (my primary activity). There have been several one-time error messages. The most recent one being: E 0444A7 ERR DSE. I've received overtemp warnings on 160, even though I had not been transmitting on the first key down. I've checked the PS, one that I've been using for years. It is metered and the output voltage does not waver. I've checked it with a Fluke in Rx and Tx, and it reads 13.4VDC/13.3VDC respectively. The K3 internal meter reads 13.3 and 12.2! That doesn't seem right. Also, I seem to have lost control of my RF Gain pot. It does not function in AGC, either F or S. Sometimes I can get it to work in AGC-OFF, cycling the radio on and of seems to place it back in the non-functioning mode as does changing bands. I've put all of the AGC settings back to factory default. Same problem. I'm using the last official firmware release 2.78 and whatever the associated DSP firmware was. It might be something blatantly obvious, but I'm missing it. Any suggestions before I go batty? Thanks, Julius Wanted to put the second Rx in, but with this weirdness, I'm holding off. Have you tried a complete reload, either of the same firmware or the previous version you were using? -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-problems-tp2253876p2254428.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3- pace of development
R. Kevin Stover wrote: You don't think the R and D departments at Yaesu, Kenwood, and Icom wouldn't love to know what Elecraft plans are for development in the next year? I'm not sure if there are crossed purposes here or a genuine difference of opinion. Personally I agree that publishing a roadmap for the development of new products could be commercial suicide. However, the K3 is an existing product and I am interested in what has or is going to change / get fixed / get incorporated in the future. There have been a number of discussions here where Lyle or Wayne has said they will go on the list to get fixed / incorporated. I don't think that it is an unreasonable request (to go on the existing list maybe :-) ) and it's not commercially sensitive information (it's in the public domain anyway) and I can't see what Elecraft's competitors would get that they haven't got already. 73's all Paul M1PAF -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3---pace-of-development-tp2244953p2254533.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
[Elecraft] K1 warble
After my K1 runs for awhile the received audio sounds wobbly and the rf output warbles as well. I am pretty sure there must be a voltage regulation issue, but before I open it up, has anyone seen this? A head start on the problem would be nice. 73 Steve W2SES __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AM reception
My K3 sounds great on BCB/SW AM reception - in fact I'm listening to it right now. I have the FM filter and the DSP BW cranked up to the maximum. It reads 10 KHz, but I am using far from the latest version of firmware. I'm using the West Mountain Comspkrs on the rear speaker jack. They are powered speakers, but work just fine with the audio level on the speaker output. This allows me to control the volume with the K3 audio gain and the stereo output nicely showcases the AFX effects. I can highly recommend these speakers - quite a value for the $ and supposedly shielded for RF. I have a single Fostex 6301B connected to the line out for a center channel. This allows for a variable insertion of some additional high end to brighten up the sound if desired. The overall effect is quite pleasing. I also use it sometimes for casual operating, but always phones for contesting. The only popping/clicking issue I know of is if you have the noise blanker or noise reduction engaged with a strong (20 over 9 or above) signal. Keep them off. 73 ... Craig AC0DS __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2 unadvertised feature ?
Steve, But I don't think a transverter should normally pump RF back into the K2 transverter output. Are you trying to simulate RF pickup on the coax between the K2 transverter output and the transverter input? If that is what you are trying to simulate, I would feel more comfortable having the high RF field present on the coax shield (with the coax terminated at the far end), and no signal pumped backwards into the K2. You are correct - if both TX and RX are off, both 8T and 8R will be at zero volts (no power to the early stages of the K2 transmitter and no power to many parts of the receiver. You are also correct that noise as I suggested on the PTT/DOT line would cause the K2 to go into transmit - it is not, it is just going 'out of receive'. You will probably have to poke around with an RF Probe or an adequate oscilloscope to determine which lines have RF on them in order to determine what circuits in the K2 (or on the K60XV) are hot with RF. With the information I have received thus far, I would be more suspicious of the AUXBUS signal line, because that is a signal the communicates directly between the various processors in the K2, and clearly the microprocessor is doing 'strange and unusual things'. It may take a K2 firmware expert (Wayne) to figure out what is happening in the microprocessor to cause RX to drop. 73, Don W3FPR Steve Kavanagh wrote: Don: Thanks for the quick reply ! I'd reply off list with the nitty gritty details but I did have a request from another interested ham to make the results public. I have now put together a much more controlled test setup for the K2 that doesn't involve high levels of RF all over the shack ! I now have a low power crystal oscillator/multiplier source at about 146 MHz (which puts about 0.5 mW into a 50 ohm load) connected to the XVTR OUT jack connected in parallel with a 50 ohm load using a BNC Tee just behind the rear panel. This reliably reproduced the observed effects (KEY OUT going to ground, receiver quiet and S-meter to maximum), and simulates the loading effect of having a transverter connected. Check the gate of Q4 to see if the voltage there drops - that causes 8R to drop. Yes it does drop when I key the 146 MHz test source, and the collector of Q2 (8R) does too. Also check the state of the TX signal from the microprocessor (gate of Q3) That voltage remains unchanged at approximately zero volts, as does the collector of Q1 (8T). So clearly the K2 is switching into an odd state. My guess that the PTT input may be the culprit is only a guess, but it is possible for severe noise (high RF levels) on the PTT line to cause the microprocessor to become 'mixed up'. If the K2 is in CW mode it does not start sending dots, so the PTT line is not going low. Which doesn't mean it doesn't have RF on it, but we are now talking about a pretty low level (500 microwatts) of generally shielded RF so I would be surprised if stray coupling to the PTT line would be the culprit. Back to head scratching. 73, Steve VE3SMA __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 warble
Steve, See if the DC voltage on the VFO pot wiper terminal also 'warbles' - it may be hard to spot with a digital meter, if you have a fast reading analog meter, use that and see if the meter needle 'wiggles' What I am saying is that could be caused by a bad 10 turn potentiometer - the voltage at the wiper directly controls the capacitance of the varactors and therefore, the frequency of the VFO. 73, Don W3FPR w2ses wrote: After my K1 runs for awhile the received audio sounds wobbly and the rf output warbles as well. I am pretty sure there must be a voltage regulation issue, but before I open it up, has anyone seen this? A head start on the problem would be nice. 73 Steve W2SES __ 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 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.233 / Virus Database: 270.10.16/1928 - Release Date: 01/30/09 17:31:00 __ 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
[Elecraft] Elecraft SSB Net results (2/1/09)
We had a good SSB net today (1800Z) on 14.316 MHz. The signals from most of the US and Canada were fairly good to the net control in Oregon (S6 to S9+). Three WA/OR stations needed relay to me. Some stations report that they could not hear many others or that the signals were low. Conditions are such that those running higher power (over 500 watts) like the NCS are OK, but those who are barefoot are close to the noise for many stations. We continue to grow with 34 participants today, and there were a number of good questions and comments. We ran about 55 minutes today. Here is a list of the participants: Station NameQTH Rig S/N KM5QWindy NM K3 764 W8FUBruce OH K3 2516 K5OAJ/M BillTX K4GCJ Gerry NC K3 1597 W0NTA DickCO K3 1208 N1LQDavid MA K3 371 VE3MV DougON K3 AB2TC Ken NY K3 82 W3HVG Pat PA K3 834 W6GBG Allan AL K3 2252 W8YMO Harry OH K3 166 AE5JD BartTX K3 2106 K8MBY PhilOH K3 609 W1TFTy GA K3 696 WK2SBarry NY K3 297 N1IYZ/M Murray AZ IC706 KE4WY Jim KY K3 W9DVM PhilFL K3 1605 N0EHQ Ed IA K3 242 KB0YH Gus CO K3 441 AI4VZ George GA K3 2412 W6KOH DaveOR K2 5120 WB8RAE BillNY K3 2385 KG0DDaveOR K3 2123 VE1CHW Rob NS K3 1680 N1EUBarry NY K3 300 K4QUMikeVA Orion K7SJRoger WA K3 75 W0ANM Chris MN K3 509 NV5ERob TX K3 1417 K5BWU JohnTX K7TVEricAZ K3 1837 N6CYRickVA K3 1736 NS7PPhilOR K3 1826 We await better propagation conditions as the spring rolls in.. Thanks to everybody who checked in. Enjoy the Super Bowl. 73, Phil, NS7P ___ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] AM receive band width
So my questions are: (1) Is audio distortion on AM a known problem with the K3? (2) What does the LCD BW actually read? Is it an IF BW, an audio BW, or what, and does the displayed BW actually correspond to reality? On my K3 I see and measure the following: 6 KHz AM filter AM mode Band width displayed as 3.00 KHz, Spectrum lab -10 dB audio band 100 Hz to 3100 Hz 6 KHz AM filter LSB mode Band width displayed as 4.00 KHz Spectrum lab -10 dB audio band 120 Hz to 3500 Hz 13 KHz FM filter AM mode Bandwidth displayed as 5.00 KHz, Spectrum lab -10 dB audio band 100 Hz to 4200 Hz 13 KHz FM filter LSB mode Bandwidth displayed as 5.00 KHz Spectrum lab -10 dB audio band 120 Hz to 3600 Hz If I had a second 13 KHz filter in the sub receiver I would try linking VFOs and place one on upper sideband and the other on lower sideband (otherwise know as ISB mode). -- AM audio much more understandable (pleasant) on the FM filter, the extra 1 KHz helps. AM on the 6 KHz filter on LSB is okay and using LSB/USB is best possible reception of AM if you only have a 2.7 KHz filter. I will leave it up to you to decide what the LCD BW corresponds to. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] AM receive band width
AM audio much more understandable (pleasant) on the FM filter, the extra 1 KHz helps. To those who feel that AM reception with the 6 kHz filter is not very understandable: I had that same impression the first day or so after assembling my K3. Then I discovered that, with my small hi-fi speakers, excessive bass was the culprit. It appears that broadcast AM transmissions are balanced to sound pleasant with a wider receiver passband. The 6 kHz filter removes some highs, so to restore balance some of the lows need to be cut. This was easily achieved with the K3's receive equalizer. Of course, if you are using a speaker designed for communications, this is not likely to be needed. Anyway with the equalizer cutting off frequencies below 200 Hz or so, and some attenuation at 400 Hz, I found AM receive quality on voice to leave little room for improvement, and better than good SSB (assuming no ESSB). For music the FM filter would be a significant improvement of course, but when I listen to SW broadcasts, music is not generally what I am looking for, so I haven't been able to justify a 13 kHz filter. Incidentally, I find a similar situation with the surround sound system in my living room. When the tuner is set to AM, I need to adjust controls to cut some bass, probably because the manufacturer takes pride in a deep bass response. The car radio and small portable radios don't seem to have that problem, perhaps because the manufacturers expect the products to be actually used for AM, and of course in many cases less bass means lower cost of manufacturing. 73, Erik K7TV __ 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
[Elecraft] RTTY problem
I am having a problem with receiving RTTY signals. It worked before so I assume it is something I have set incorrectly. There is no display of anything on any of the RTTY applications. No waterfall, nothing at all. I have tried different computers and multiple applications with the same results. I have adjusted the line out item in the config menu to full scale. I plugged headphones into the line out jack I can hear the RTTY signal but it seems to be attenuated. Although I don't know how loud it should be. BTW: transmit doesn't work at all. That will be the subject of another email. Any help would be appreciated. Dave N1IX __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Suggestion
...Ah the [UNDO] button. Such a simple elegant idea. Where it is available I use it without any thinking, and with great relief. Some developers of software for the MACINTOSH, where the 'undo' feature is explicitly defined and encouraged, say that fully 50% of total development effort of an application arises from the work required to implement the 'undo' feature. At least, the early Macintosh desigh thinking included explicit provision for the undo capability. I am constantly intrigued by the overwhelming disposition of software engineering to develop functionality without any thought to integrating a 'reverse' gear. Everyone seems so focused on 'the way ahead', that being able to back up--go in reverse--is not considered. In the earliest stages of system architecture design, if the 'undo' capability isn't explicitly emphasized, then the ability to evolve this is unknowingly sacrificed. ...and it is a capability that can't be developed as a afterthought. The second most intelligent creature on this planet could have been a serious competitor for humans were it not for two omissions in its early evolution, omissions that can't be added on after the fact. The octopus doesn't have a a back bone (it is an invertebrate) and it has only a one year life span. MORAL: No matter how hard you try you can't undo the omission of an undo capability. :-) Richard K5BWV Adam Koczarski wrote: .. ... I was thinking the same thing yesterday. A button you can tap to undo the last bone headed adjustment! Adam - ka7ark .. ... __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] RTTY problem
Dave, It sounds like you have some problem with the cable to the computer or in the soundcard itself. If you attach some other device to the cable you are plugging into the K3 line-out (like a portable CD player), do you see anything on the waterfall - you should. Is there any chance that you have reversed the line-in and line-out cables? The K3 line out goes to the computer line-in. Reversing them would cause both transmit and receive to fail. Check your computer soundcard controls to be certain you do not have line-in muted. 73, Don W3FPR N1IX wrote: I am having a problem with receiving RTTY signals. It worked before so I assume it is something I have set incorrectly. There is no display of anything on any of the RTTY applications. No waterfall, nothing at all. I have tried different computers and multiple applications with the same results. I have adjusted the line out item in the config menu to full scale. I plugged headphones into the line out jack I can hear the RTTY signal but it seems to be attenuated. Although I don't know how loud it should be. BTW: transmit doesn't work at all. That will be the subject of another email. Any help would be appreciated. Dave N1IX __ 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 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.233 / Virus Database: 270.10.16/1928 - Release Date: 01/30/09 17:31:00 __ 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
[Elecraft] K3 RTTY problem
I am having a problem with receiving RTTY signals. It worked before so I assume it is something I have set incorrectly. There is no display of anything on any of the RTTY applications. No waterfall, nothing at all. I have tried different computers and multiple applications with the same results. I have adjusted the line out item in the config menu to full scale. I plugged headphones into the line out jack I can hear the RTTY signal but it seems to be attenuated. Although I don't know how loud it should be. BTW: transmit doesn't work at all. That will be the subject of another email. Any help would be appreciated. Dave N1IX__ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 RTTY problem
One thing to check: In DATA mode, press and hold the PITCH button. The displayed mark and shift frequencies must match MMTTY or whatever decoding program you are using. Which program or TU are you using? Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ - Original Message - From: N1IX n...@verizon.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 9:17 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K3 RTTY problem I am having a problem with receiving RTTY signals. It worked before so I assume it is something I have set incorrectly. There is no display of anything on any of the RTTY applications. No waterfall, nothing at all. I have tried different computers and multiple applications with the same results. I have adjusted the line out item in the config menu to full scale. I plugged headphones into the line out jack I can hear the RTTY signal but it seems to be attenuated. Although I don't know how loud it should be. BTW: transmit doesn't work at all. That will be the subject of another email. Any help would be appreciated. Dave N1IX __ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] Fwd: AM radio K3
Subject: AM radio K3 Here is what I found about my K3 100W, with the KBPF3 General coverage band-pass filter array and the AM filter installed. The AM radio coverage fair on the upper end and noisy on the lower freq.'s. So I installed the KXV3 RF I/O module as directed by Elecraft personnel. Now the sound is excellent on both the #1 and #2 antenna's when connected to the KXV3 BNC connector RX ANT in. How ever when connected to a inside AM antenna I receive hardly any audio. Elecraft personnel have suggested a LOOP antenna, home made which he uses on his K3 and works great. I do not have time to make one so I have purchased one on line and am awaiting it's arrival to give it a try. If you are not familiar with a LOOP antenna google it and see the demos and how it is used. I am hoping for the best, good luck to yall. Duane w6ddr duanere...@mac.com __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] AM receive band width
Perhaps many US listeners would be surprised to learn that the AM broadcast stations they listen to limit their bandwidth to 5 or 6 kHz for several reasons. In many tests listeners prefer the reduced bandwidth because it improves the AM signal/noise ratio when signals become marginal. They never miss the highs because the most common AM radios today - car radios - have filters that limit their audio bandwidth to less than 5 kHz! Broadcasters have discovered they can sell the un-needed bandwidth they are entitled to use for non-listener functions, so they have a double incentive to limit the broadcast bandwidth. Here's a couple of on-line resources for the curious: http://www.rwonline.com/article/1672 This report notes: These objective measurements established that the majority of current analog AM receivers have audio bandwidths of less than 5 kHz. In fact, with only a few exceptions, the frequency response of individual receivers falls off above 1 or 2 kHz. As shown in Fig. 1, the combined frequency response of all receivers through the test bed (the middle curve, in blue) was -3 dB at 2450 Hz and -10 dB at 4100 Hz. Another interesting report is here: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_Feb_2/ai_n17166612 I suppose the moral is that bandwidth is like money: It's not how much you have but what you do with it that counts in the end. Ron AC7AC __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] AM receive band width
Very interesting Ron! This suggests that the radios where AM broadcast sounds good (portable radios and car radios) have built-in bass suppression and/or treble emphasis for AM, which supports the need to use the equalizer on the K3. Since the K3 is primarily for amateur communications, and many amateurs have microphones that emphasize the highs, it makes sense for the K3 to rely on the equalizer rather than impose a non-flat response on all. (However, it helps make the case for eventually getting mode-specific equalization on the K3.) When it comes to the living-room stereo that sounds lousy on AM I guess spec-manship prevents the manufacturer from counteracting the broadcasters' roll-off, lest the expensive box look non-flat on paper. 73, Erik K7TV - Original Message - From: Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 2:55 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] AM receive band width Perhaps many US listeners would be surprised to learn that the AM broadcast stations they listen to limit their bandwidth to 5 or 6 kHz for several reasons. In many tests listeners prefer the reduced bandwidth because it improves the AM signal/noise ratio when signals become marginal. They never miss the highs because the most common AM radios today - car radios - have filters that limit their audio bandwidth to less than 5 kHz! Broadcasters have discovered they can sell the un-needed bandwidth they are entitled to use for non-listener functions, so they have a double incentive to limit the broadcast bandwidth. Here's a couple of on-line resources for the curious: http://www.rwonline.com/article/1672 This report notes: These objective measurements established that the majority of current analog AM receivers have audio bandwidths of less than 5 kHz. In fact, with only a few exceptions, the frequency response of individual receivers falls off above 1 or 2 kHz. As shown in Fig. 1, the combined frequency response of all receivers through the test bed (the middle curve, in blue) was -3 dB at 2450 Hz and -10 dB at 4100 Hz. Another interesting report is here: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_Feb_2/ai_n17166612 I suppose the moral is that bandwidth is like money: It's not how much you have but what you do with it that counts in the end. Ron AC7AC __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 - diversity reception question
Wayne, wayne burdick schrieb am 31 Jan 2009 um 9:33: This is about an 8 dB drop. The first 3 dB can be attributed to the fact that main and sub are now sharing the main antenna path (the splitter gets turned on). The other 5 dB must be due to some combination of the other factors I listed: 1. band-pass filter alignment and losses 2. 1st mixer loss 3. crystal filter loss 4. crystal filter ripple 5. physical alignment of the SUB AF control (when used as main/sub BALANCE) Are the crystal filters in the two receivers matched? If not, you could be using a filter with a lot of loss in the sub vs. the main at a particular bandwidth. no - they are not. I have -0.89 and -0.81 - both set to -0.85. I'll discuss this with Gary like you said. tnx, 73! de Werner OE9FWV 73! de Werner OE9FWV -- I can't walk on water, but I can stagger on alcohol. Email powered by Pegasus Mail free at http://www.pmail.com Homepage: http://www.qsl.net/oe9fwv/ Fone +43 5522 75013 Fax +43 5522 75013 15 Mobile +43 664 6340014 Elecraft K2 #5203 K3 #656 __ 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
[Elecraft] How to get K3 SUB frequency readout on main
How do I get the K3 to put the SUB RX S-meter *and* frequency readout on the main RX. It's as if I hit BSET and then something else. I know this can be done because I just stumbled into it and can't figure how to get it back. This is really what I want when listening on sub RX and AUX RF input to lower BC bands. It allows me to see the frequency readout down to Hz. This is useful for listening to AM using wide LSB or SSB to keep out splatter from channel up or down. I had it but can't reproduce it 73, Guy. __ 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
[Elecraft] AM receive band width on K3
I have the FM filter. I learned last week after experiencing less than optimal FM audio quality on receive that the Rx EQ is enabled on all modes. I've never seen that on FM. The complicating factor is that the 8 equalizer sound band values vary from the K3 documentation whenever the filter width changes (this always happens with mode changes). I had Rx Eq frequency band 8 set to -16 (who needs that much high end response), only to find that on SSB the expected attenuation was at 3.3khz, but on FM the attenuation was at 2.7 khz in the audio. I also had band 7 reduced from level. AM is also different with respect to the 8 Rx Eq bands than is documented. The spectragram displays are enligtening. So, widen it up then make sure the Eq is correct. [Elecraft] AM receive band width Erik N Basilier ebasilier at cox.net Sun Feb 1 17:21:39 EST 2009 Previous message: [Elecraft] AM receive band width Very interesting Ron!This suggests that the radios where AM broadcast sounds good (portable radios and car radios) have built-inbass suppression and/or treble emphasis for AM, which supports the need to use the equalizer on the K3.Since the K3 is primarily for amateur communications, and many amateurs have microphones that emphasizethe highs, it makes sense for the K3 to rely on the equalizer rather than impose a non-flat response on all.(However, it helps make the case for eventually getting mode-specific equalization on the K3.)When it comes to the living-room stereo that sounds lousy on AM I guess spec-manship prevents themanufacturer from counteracting the broadcasters' roll-off, lest the expensive box look non-flat on paper.73,Erik K7TV __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 problems
Julius Fazekas n2wn wrote: Hi Julian, I've tried that once... Is there a reset to factory default option? I don't suspect it's the firmware load, but it's worth trying again. Cheers, Julius Reset to factory default would have to somehow restore whatever firmware version it came with. There is a reinitialize all parameters to defaults option, described in the manual under Parameter Equalization (page 61 in my copy.) If you do that you'll have to re-do all the menu parameter settings, which you may never have done before if yours is a ready built radio. You can save all the settings using the firmware utility and then restore them (also described on that page of the manual) though if you do that I suppose you could be restoring whatever setting is causing the trouble. Still, it would seem to be the logical next step, if reloading the firmware hasn't cured the problem. - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. http://www.g4ilo.com/ G4ILO's Shack http://www.ham-directory.com/ Ham Directoryhttp://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html KComm for Elecraft K2 and K3 -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-problems-tp2253876p229.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] AM receive band width
K7TV wrote: Since the K3 is primarily for amateur communications, and many amateurs have microphones that emphasize the highs, it makes sense for the K3 to rely on the equalizer rather than impose a non-flat response on all. (However, it helps make the case for eventually getting mode-specific equalization on the K3.) Yes, that would really be nice (including disabling equalization for data modes.) - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. http://www.g4ilo.com/ G4ILO's Shack http://www.ham-directory.com/ Ham Directoryhttp://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html KComm for Elecraft K2 and K3 -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/AM-receive-band-width-tp2255129p2255571.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
[Elecraft] [K3] Rx Equalizer
I learned last week after experiencing less than optimal FM audio quality on receive that the Rx EQ is enabled on all modes. I've never seen that on FM. The Rx EQ is for the receiver. It currently applies to all modes. The complicating factor is that the 8 equalizer sound band values vary from the K3 documentation whenever the filter width changes (this always happens with mode changes). There is but one Rx EQ routine in the DSP and it has but one set of parameters. It does not vary by mode; it is completely independent. Note that the way the EQ works is that it creates, or attempts to create, a smooth slope from the indicated frequency (say, 1.60 kHz, EQ band 6) to halfway to the next indicated frequencies (in this case, halfway to the 0.80 kHz band (thus 1200 Hz), band 5) and halfway to the 2.40 kHz band (thus 2.00 kHz), band 7). The Tx EQ works the same way. This is similar to the way the W2IHY equalizer works,or the formerly-common graphic equalizer sliders on stereo equipment. The indicated frequency is the center of the band of frequencies over which it operates. (I put center in quotes as you may not consider 1600 Hz to be the center frequency between 1200 Hz and 2000 Hz as explained above.) Finally, the upper frequency correction value (3200 Hz, band 8) extends to the top of the audio passband. If you set it for - 4 dB, for example, the -4 dB correction will be applied from 3.20 kHz to 4 kHz, or 4.2 kHz, or whatever the audio frequency cutoff happens to be for the mode you have selected. The net result is that you can create a smooth frequency roll off characteristic. While on the topic of the ERQ, some people have asked me if the DSP delay can be reduced if the EQ is set to OFF (flat). The answer is no. The Rx EQ is *not* a separate process added to the audio path. The EQ parameters are used when building the AF filter response for the radio. There is *one* DSP AF filter, which includes the effects of SHIFT/WIDTH/MANUAL NOTCH *and* Rx EQ. The Auto notch, and noise reduction, are additional processes in the path. So is AFX in the right channel. 73, Lyle KK7P __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Suggestion
Richard Davis-5 wrote: ...Ah the [UNDO] button. Such a simple elegant idea. Where it is available I use it without any thinking, and with great relief. There is an UNDO button of sorts. It's called Restore K3 Configuration From... in the K3 Utility Configuration Menu. This presumes you stored the default configuration and/or changes you've made. Of course, if you try this, you'll see it's not instantaneous by any means (several minutes to Save or Restore). 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Suggestion-tp2247165p2255645.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Suggestion
Bill W4ZV wrote: There is an UNDO button of sorts. It's called Restore K3 Configuration From... in the K3 Utility Configuration Menu. This presumes you stored the default configuration and/or changes you've made. Of course, if you try this, you'll see it's not instantaneous by any means (several minutes to Save or Restore). And all computers have an undo function that works in any application. It's called a backup. - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. http://www.g4ilo.com/ G4ILO's Shack http://www.ham-directory.com/ Ham Directoryhttp://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html KComm for Elecraft K2 and K3 -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Suggestion-tp2247165p2255656.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 problems
Gary, I do see a difference between two cables. Both are the same gauge, one from a K2 kit and the other some scrap from a hamfest. This is a different PS too, slightly higher output voltage about 13.8 VDC to begin with. With the K3 internal meter I read 13.7 in Rx and 13.4 in Tx. Much better spread... Powerpole on one end 1/4 lugs on the other. The other issues seem a bit better, which makes me wonder if there is something in the internal power in chain not doing it's job... Julius Fazekas N2WN Tennessee Contest Group TnQP http://www.tnqp.org/ Elecraft K2/100 #4455 Elecraft K3/100 #366 --- On Sun, 2/1/09, Gary Hvizdak garyhviz...@cfl.rr.com wrote: From: Gary Hvizdak garyhviz...@cfl.rr.com Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K3 problems To: phriend...@yahoo.com Date: Sunday, February 1, 2009, 9:52 AM Julius, What length is the cable between PS and K3? What gauge is it? Are all connections tight, including the joints between the cable wire and the connectors themselves? (If the answers to any of these questions appear unusual then I suggest you share them with the group.) 73, Gary KI4GGX _ Julius Fazekas Sun Feb 1 09:10:59 EST 2009 I've had a number of things crop up since trying to get on RTTY. There may be no link to trying to get the rig going on FSK, and the issues are noted in CW mode (my primary activity). There have been several one-time error messages. The most recent one being: E 0444A7 ERR DSE. I've received overtemp warnings on 160, even though I had not been transmitting on the first key down. I've checked the PS, one that I've been using for years. It is metered and the output voltage does not waver. I've checked it with a Fluke in Rx and Tx, and it reads 13.4VDC/13.3VDC respectively. The K3 internal meter reads 13.3 and 12.2! That doesn't seem right. Also, I seem to have lost control of my RF Gain pot. It does not function in AGC, either F or S. Sometimes I can get it to work in AGC-OFF, cycling the radio on and of seems to place it back in the non-functioning mode as does changing bands. I've put all of the AGC settings back to factory default. Same problem. I'm using the last official firmware release 2.78 and whatever the associated DSP firmware was. It might be something blatantly obvious, but I'm missing it. Any suggestions before I go batty? Thanks, Julius Wanted to put the second Rx in, but with this weirdness, I'm holding off. Julius Fazekas N2WN __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 problems
Hi Julian, I've done that as well. I don't recall resetting the PA Temp value, that may explain the over temp warning... Did reset all the filters, so that wasn't an issue. I've swapped in a new PS that runs at 13.8VDC and a different power cable. That seemed to help some more, but there still seems to be latency with the RF gain pot. This makes me wonder if something in the K3 power chain is not functioning correctly. I'm trying to think of an event that may have caused a problem, if there is one... Nothing out of the ordinary comes to mind. The other equipment on the line that feeds the K3 are all operating correctly. Julius Fazekas N2WN Tennessee Contest Group TnQP http://www.tnqp.org/ Elecraft K2/100 #4455 Elecraft K3/100 #366 Julian, G4ILO wrote: Julius Fazekas n2wn wrote: Hi Julian, I've tried that once... Is there a reset to factory default option? I don't suspect it's the firmware load, but it's worth trying again. Cheers, Julius Reset to factory default would have to somehow restore whatever firmware version it came with. There is a reinitialize all parameters to defaults option, described in the manual under Parameter Equalization (page 61 in my copy.) If you do that you'll have to re-do all the menu parameter settings, which you may never have done before if yours is a ready built radio. You can save all the settings using the firmware utility and then restore them (also described on that page of the manual) though if you do that I suppose you could be restoring whatever setting is causing the trouble. Still, it would seem to be the logical next step, if reloading the firmware hasn't cured the problem. -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-problems-tp2253876p2255760.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
[Elecraft] FM Pre-emphasis and de-emphasis
Speaking of narrow band FM, does the K3 implement pre-emphasis and de-emphasis? I haven't had a chance to measure the FM transmitter and receiver characteristics yet, but hope to later in the week. The EIA/TIA land mobile spec is 6 dB/Octave receiver de-emphasis 300–3000 Hz and corresponding transmitter pre-emphasis. Jack K8ZOA __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] FM Pre-emphasis and de-emphasis
Speaking of narrow band FM, does the K3 implement pre-emphasis and de-emphasis? Yes :-) 73, Lyle KK7P __ 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
[Elecraft] K2 - No TX on 10 or 12
Good evening all - Finally got the transmitter all finished up today - power output on all bands except 10 and 12 is looking great. When I hold 'tune' on 10 or 12, it shows power out as .1 and I'm seeing nothing on my meter. Any suggestions on where to start looking? Thanks in advance... k8djw -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K2---No-TX-on-10-or-12-tp2255796p2255796.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2 - No TX on 10 or 12
K8DJW, Build and use the RF Probe that came with your K2. After it is built, turn the manual to Appendix E and page over to Transmit Signal Tracing, and move down to the middle of the first column of page 14 - Transmit Mixer, Buffer, etc. Instead of following the instructions exactly, use 12 or 10 meters - set the power at 5 watts and do a TUNE (leave the K2 in TUNE only long enough to take each measurement, one at a time). Now determine the first stage in the list that is producing substantially less the expected RF voltage (since the K2 is not developing power output, the RF voltages will be greater than the listed expected value). Once you have found that point, you will know which stage needs investigation. With the other bands working, most likely, it is the bandpass filter for 12/10m, and in that case, the RF voltage will drop off sharply at W6. If you still have good RF voltage at W6, continue up to the RF Detector Input. If the RF voltage only drops off at this last point, your problem is in the Low PAss Filter for 12/10 meters. 73, Don W3FPR djmd wrote: Good evening all - Finally got the transmitter all finished up today - power output on all bands except 10 and 12 is looking great. When I hold 'tune' on 10 or 12, it shows power out as .1 and I'm seeing nothing on my meter. Any suggestions on where to start looking? Thanks in advance... k8djw __ 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
[Elecraft] K3 RTTY Problem
I am having a problem with receiving RTTY signals. It worked before so I assume it is something I have set incorrectly. There is no? display of anything on any of the RTTY applications. No waterfall, nothing at all. I have tried different computers and multiple applications with the same results. I have adjusted the line out item in the config menu to full scale. I plugged headphones into the line out jack I can hear the RTTY signal but it seems to be attenuated. Although I don't know how loud it should be. BTW: transmit doesn't work at all. That will be the subject of another email. Any help would be appreciated. ? Dave N1IX __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 RTTY Problem
I am having a problem with receiving RTTY signals. It worked before so I assume it is something I have set incorrectly. There is no display of anything on any of the RTTY applications. No waterfall, nothing at all. I have tried different computers and multiple applications with the same results. I have adjusted the line out item in the config menu to full scale. I plugged headphones into the line out jack I can hear the RTTY signal but it seems to be attenuated. Although I don't know how loud it should be. BTW: transmit doesn't work at all. That will be the subject of another email. Any help would be appreciated. The fact that you have audio at the LINE OUT jack,which you can hear with your headphones, but nothing in the computer waterfall, strongly suggests the problem is either in the cables between your radio and computer soundcard, in the computer soundcard, or the setup of the software or soundcard in the computer. Since you have tried multiple computers and applications, I'd first eliminate the cables as the suspect. 73, Lyle KK7P Dave N1IX Great Deals on Dell Laptops. Starting at $499. http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/10075x1217469328x1201155439/aol?redir=http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/laptops_great_deals?c=us%26cs=19%26l=en%26s=dhs%26~ck=anavml __ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] Am bandwidth and other things
I had a very good 'ham radio' weekend, Saturday, I had a long QSO on 80 meters with the K2 on SSB, it did great at 15 watts out! I hooked up a half decent dynamic microphone and was told the K2 sounded good, not ESSB but nice. Today, I was on AM with the homebrew rig, in a large group, and was surprised to hear someone on using a K3! I don't know what microphone he was using but the K3 sounded very thin. It was the first K3 I have heard on the air on any mode. Since it was a very large group, I did not get to ask about the Microphone and so on, but almost all the modern rigs sound better on AM than the K3 did. On the positive side, I did not notice the audio getting into the alc like it does on some radios, which shows up as reducing the carrier under modulation, and the audio sounded clean. In my book, most of the modern rigs do poorly on AM receive as far as distortion, noise and frequency response go, limiting the low end response to something like 200 or 100 Hz, but listen to some good AM on an old tube receiver with push pull 6L6's, or the detector output of an R390 into a hifi amplifier, and its a whole other thing. What really surprises me is how good the K2 sounds on ssb receive, with an outboard hifi speaker, listening to the essb guys. Brett N2DTS __ 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
[Elecraft] [K3] TMP Connectors
Naive question: Where do TMP connectors come from? I'd like to have something a little more stable than a bent piece of wire when I plug into J1 to check the Reference Oscillator. - 73, John, W0JFR -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/-K3--TMP-Connectors-tp2256151p2256151.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
[Elecraft] ELECRAFT KEY FOR SALE SAVE $ 100.00!!!
Due to problems with a partial hand amputation, I must sell my keys. I am now forced to use a keyboard. I have Elecraft Hex Key # E 0355 for sale. I am including a first class, heavy duty cord and plug. NONE is supplied when sold new. Condition is excellent with original box. Price is $ 135.00 and I'll pay the shipping in the USA . Outside US, additional funds required. Payment via U.S. Postal Money order or Paypal is preferred. Save close to $ 100.00 over new! Contact w...@hotmail.com for details. WK3N NEVER SLEEPS ! Quote from Martti Lane, OH2BH. ( Proof available for SASE to WK3N) _ Windows Live™: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_012009__ 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
[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Report for February 1st, 2009
Good Evening, The band was not happy this afternoon. I did not hear much noise, or any flutter for that matter, but the signals were not as good as they had been earlier in the week. Even Tom, with his beam and extra power, was not very strong. I looked at the various propagation sites and Space Weather and found nothing which could have predicted our results. All that being said we were able to pull seven people from the aether. All of the California stations were logged by Tom but from those I was only able to hear Fred. The other two Californians were not even ESP to me. On to the lists = On 14049.5 kHz at 2300z: N0SS - Tom - MO - K3 - 008 W0CZ - Ken - ND - K3 - 457 NO8V - John - MI - K3 - 820 N0AR - Scott - MN - K2 - 4866 K6DGW - Fred - CA - K3 - 642 K6PJV - Dale - CA - K3 - 1183* QNI #105 * W6ZH - Pete - CA - K1 - 553 One of these days the conditions will improve. Last week they were pretty good but I expect even that will be exceeded in the coming months. Spring is just around the corner for us here in Oregon but in the North and the Midwest spring is still a few months away. Tomorrow the ground hog will make his prediction so we will know the facts about its official commencement. My favorite rodent is from Wisconsin but I know there is at least one other pretender to the throne (burrow?) in Pennsylvania. He even had a movie made about him where Bill Murray eventually got the girl. Pat made me watch that one just like she was shocked when she found out I had never seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show or Little Shop of Horrors. She educated me quite a few times in theatre and culture ;) She also educated me on the ways of human nature and how to handle a crowd while teaching them. She had many more lessons to give me when she left. Until next week I hope you all stay warm and stay well, 73, Kevin. KD5ONS (Net Control Operator 5th Class) - __ 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
[Elecraft] ECN addenda
I just got an email from one of the my check ins. Seems like there is a little football game on TV. I had no idea. Maybe the propagation was not so bad after all :) However, next week is another gamble with the sun, the ionosphere, and terrestrial weather systems. 73, Kevin. KD5ONS (Net Control Without a Clue :) __ 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
[Elecraft] ELECRAFT KEY SOLD
elecraft key has been sold. Thanks to all to responed! Scotty/3 WK3N NEVER SLEEPS ! Quote from Martti Lane, OH2BH. _ Windows Live™: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_012009__ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Suggestion
-Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft- boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Julian, G4ILO Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 3:26 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Suggestion And all computers have an undo function that works in any application. It's called a backup. Virtually every software application has an undo key. Backups are for major restores, not for a mistaken edit. When's the last time you used a backup to restore a document you mistakenly delete a word from?? Not quite the same thing. Adam - ka7ark __ 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
[Elecraft] CW Pitch
I only completed my new K3 (complete with subreceiver) a couple of days ago, and it's my first experience with true dual receive with stereo headphones. I suppose that with time and practice I'll become more proficient at copying different signals in each ear, but at present I find it easier to do so if the CW pitch in one ear is different than in the other ear. With a really narrow bandwidth (say 250 HZ roofing and 200 Hz DSP), though, there isn't much room for a shift in tone before the desired signal starts sliding down the skirt. Is there any way to set the CW pitch separately for the main receiver and the subreceiver? I've searched both the manual and the reflector archives and haven't found any mention of separate pitch at all, either yes or no. Thanks much es 73, Dave AB7E __ 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
