Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Report for December 13th 14th, 2009
What is a K4? 73 de M0XDF -- The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher. -Thomas Henry Huxley, biologist and writer (1825-1995) On 14 Dec 2009, at 02:25, Kevin Rock wrote: On to the lists = On 14050.5 kHz at 2300z: KD5PZO - Pat - OR - K4 - 001 On 7044.5 kHz at z: KD5PZO - Pat - OR - K4 - 001 __ 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] KPA100 problem
Hi Jerry, I had the same problem and suspected U4, I removed U4 and fitted and IC holder, and then fitted a new IC and still had the same fault. The problem turned out to be a cracked capacitor in the voltage magnification line. The Capacitor spacing is a bit smaller than the holes provided and I had used too much force getting the component flat. There are not many conponents to check. make sure you have a good desoldering tool. 73's Andrew PS Merry Christmas Jerry and Don Don Wilhelm-4 wrote: Jerry, That means U4 is not the problem, the problem is somewhere in the rectifier stack and goes away when you lift the anode of D7. Check both D7 and D8 for proper orientation (use the parts placement diagram since the board silkscreen is covered). Check for a solder bridge across the leads of C38. Be certain C35 is soldered properly. If you lift the anode of D7 and place a 0.1 uF capacitor from the flying lead of D7 to ground, what is the voltage at the D7 anode? I know that did not fully identify the failure point, but hopefully it gives you some clues. 73, Don W3FPR n0jrn wrote: Gang: I need some advise please. I'm trying to finish my KPA100 but I can't seem to get beyond voltage tests on page 46 of the manual. I should be getting 90 to 150 V's at the junction of C77 R11 but only getting 47 volts. I should be getting -5 to -25 V's at pin 8 of U4 BUT I'm only seeing -4.1. I did some research in the archives and came up with a few ideas. Checked D1 - D8 and T3 pads. All diodes pass continuity test and T3 seems fine and shows zero resistance between pads. Checking the schematics prompted me to lift the anode of D7 to remove U4. In doing this, the voltage at the junction of R11 came up into spec and shows 150 V's. This means that U4 is drawing the circuit down. SO, I sent Elecraft an e-mail and Gary sent me a new MAX1406. Figured I would install it and all would be good.NOT ! After installing the new U4,I rechecked voltage at R11 and found it is still just 47 V's. I've double checked orientation of U4, and it's fine. I was very careful to observe anti static procedures when installing the new chip. SO, I'm confused and not sure where to go from here. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks 72: Jerry N0JRN __ 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: 9.0.716 / Virus Database: 270.14.105/2562 - Release Date: 12/13/09 02:39:00 __ 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 -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/KPA100-problem-tp4161606p4163408.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] K2 Aurora noice
Hi Lennart, Oh dear, this sounds tricky to solve over an email reflector. The first thing do you have access to RF test equipment? As it would be useful to look at the LO on a spectrum analyser. Your description sounds like you have lost lock due to a component changing value with the excessive heat. I would start from scratch and re-align. Make sure you 4MHz oscillator and frequency counter is working correctly first. If it does not align or do the frequency cal does not work get back to me. I am away from home at the moment, but the more information you give me the more I can point you in the right direction. BR Andrew Lenton Lennart wrote: Hi, I have used my K2/10w a lot the last couple of years. Always a good performer on CW and very good audio reports on SSB. The KAT2 tunes any antenna I have tried an I have used it a lot portable. At one portable activity last summer the radio was exposed to direct sunlight for a while and got very hot. At that time the output power dropped sharply and receive appeared to listen to the whole band at once. This has happened a couple of times since then. The receive sounds like severe aurora noise covering almost all signals, the transmit on CW is just a low power very wide noise as well. It must be very early in the oscillator stage somewhere, the PLL or something stop working. If I change band it is the same thing on the higher bands. Then suddenly gone and the radio is OK for a moth. Very irritating on portable expeditions or when it happens in the middle of a QSO. I have no clue where to start. I have tried to find a bad connection or bad solder. Is there a PLL reference oscillatior that could make it act like this, or where should I look? Regards, Lennart - SM6KNL -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K2-Aurora-noice-tp4134494p4163469.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] How long could it take to arrive my home.
It took UPS express 34 hrs to go from Elecraft to my home. (Pretty quick I'd say) The 'normal way' was about 10 days. 73 Arie PA3A -Oorspronkelijk bericht- Van: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] Namens David Quental Verzonden: zondag 13 december 2009 15:17 Aan: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Onderwerp: [Elecraft] How long could it take to arrive my home. Hello all again, now another question, but mainly for the european members of this mailing list. how long could package take until arrive at my address ? I am just asking it because at 22nd of December my family will go out of home so nobody there to receive package. Last information from package tracking is this one: International Dispatch, December 12, 2009, 9:26 am, ISC SAN FRANCISCO (USPS) Any help will be useful. Best 73 to all. T6AG David Quental __ 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] XV-144 heat
This is one of the disadvantages of buying when equipment is newly available. There were no holes in my XV144 top and bottom case panels. I must remember to wait awhile in future until all the initial changes have been made. 73 David G4DMP In a recent message, Eric gliderboy1...@yahoo.com wrote ... My xv 144 has holes on both the top and bottom cover as it came from the factory -- David G4DMP Leeds, England, UK -- __ 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] XV-144 heat
Are there holes in the PCB Eric? I must check my unmade kit that's been waiting 2 years! 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174 -- We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. -Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel laureate (1879-1955) On 14 Dec 2009, at 15:07, David Pratt wrote: There were no holes in my XV144 top and bottom case panels. In a recent message, Eric gliderboy1...@yahoo.com wrote ... My xv 144 has holes on both the top and bottom cover as it came from the factory -- David G4DMP Leeds, England, UK -- __ 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] How long could it take to arrive my home.
I know that UPS is the only fast way to get things over quickly to EUR. Therfor dont let the term USPS ' Express' mislead you, it takes weeks for parts to arrive. I have a package sitting at the airport waiting for clearance. Arrival in NL (Ater 6 days) on 9 december and due for delivery, according to latest info, around 19/19. So the complete shipment took a month (that is calles express) I did have good experiences with UPS in the past to, just a couple of days. Worth the additional charge! 73, Dick PA3CW Arie Kleingeld PA3A-2 wrote: It took UPS express 34 hrs to go from Elecraft to my home. (Pretty quick I'd say) The 'normal way' was about 10 days. 73 Arie PA3A -Oorspronkelijk bericht- Van: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] Namens David Quental Verzonden: zondag 13 december 2009 15:17 Aan: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Onderwerp: [Elecraft] How long could it take to arrive my home. Hello all again, now another question, but mainly for the european members of this mailing list. how long could package take until arrive at my address ? I am just asking it because at 22nd of December my family will go out of home so nobody there to receive package. Last information from package tracking is this one: International Dispatch, December 12, 2009, 9:26 am, ISC SAN FRANCISCO (USPS) Any help will be useful. Best 73 to all. T6AG David Quental __ 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 -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/How-long-could-it-take-to-arrive-my-home-tp4159707p4164721.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, K2, K3: filtering email
Hehehehe. Here is MY approach. I subscribe in digest form and DELETE every digest w/o looking at anything, as soon as it arrives. I subscribe so I can reply. Other reflectors have a set no mail option, but I didn't see that when I first subscribed here (years ago). I simply use the reflector link page http://www.elecraft.com/elist.html I look at the SUBJECT of each message and only open what seems interesting. I do this for every reflector that I am subscribed to. de Doug KR2Q __ 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] Help with K3 ports for CW Skimmer CAT
Thanks for the reply Julian (I am a frequent visitor to your site so I feel like I already know you!).for some reason the moderator bounced my posting saying I wasn't registered, which I am. Anyhow, I am curious if you know the answer to this...I have HRD shut down, would this still affect CW Skimmer's ability to perform CAT? Thanks, Larry CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR WATCHMAKER'S TOOLS MATERIAL: http://www.execulink.com/~lfoord/tools.html - Original Message - From: Julian, G4ILO [via Elecraft] To: Larry, VE3LR Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 10:19 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Help with K3 ports for CW Skimmer CAT Larry, VE3LR wrote: As we age the brain (or at least mine) gets confused so easy..the love of my life (my K3) works flawlessly in CAT with HRD using Elecraft's serial/USB cable. CW Skimmer also works flawlessly (using 3KHZ mode) but I cannot get the CAT side of CW Skimmer to cooperate. No, it's just a plot by computers to make us think we're getting senile. CW Skimmer should work using the same settings (COM port and baud rate) you use for HRD (but not at the same time as HRD is running, unless you're using LP-Bridge or a serial port splitter.) I was going to tell you the settings I used but the trial has expired and I'm darned if I'll pay $75 for a program I only use to test its integration with KComm. If you're sure the settings are the same as HRD's then it could be that you have a USB to serial adapter that works with some programs and not others - it's quite a common problem. If you search back through the archives you'll find many recommendations for ones that work - my vote is for anything with an FTDI chipset. Actually, using LP-Bridge might help, as then it will be LP-Bridge talking to the K3 and Skimmer will be talking to 'Bridge, and I haven't seen too many reports of LP-Bridge having trouble with USB adapters. Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. * G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com * KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html * KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html -- View message @ http://n2.nabble.com/Help-with-K3-ports-for-CW-Skimmer-CAT-tp4151121p4151823.html To unsubscribe from Help with K3 ports for CW Skimmer CAT, click here. -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Help-with-K3-ports-for-CW-Skimmer-CAT-tp4151121p4152714.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 Assembly Tools
Phil, The DL2 has an included diode detector which can be used in conjunction with a DMM to measure power accurately. and is not very expensive. 73, Don W3FPR Phil Hystad wrote: Don and Chuck, Thanks for the explanations. I will probably get the XG2 kit just because it is yet another kit to build but I doubt that I will get such a meter. Well, maybe I will if I can find a cheap working on somewhere. No rush though. I just realized though that I doubt that I have anything that can measure under 5 watts with any degree of accuracy. phil __ 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, K2, K3: filtering email
DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote: I subscribe in digest form and DELETE every digest w/o looking at anything, as soon as it arrives. I subscribe so I can reply. Other reflectors have a set no mail option, but I didn't see that when I first subscribed here (years ago). To disable delivery of unwanted digests click on the Unsubscribe or edit options button at the bottom of this page http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft and log in, you can then change various options. - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. * G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com * KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html * KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K1-K2-K3-filtering-email-tp4165036p4165449.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] antenna farm
Fellow Elecrafters, I have a feeling this may open the flood gates but here goes. I am a newbie Ham but a long time SWL going back to my Knight Kit Star Roamer. I am fixin' to set-up my antenna farm. OK, it will be more like an antenna garden as I have a small house and lot. My K3/100 has a KAT3 and KRX3. I plan on using 3 Dipoles and maybe an inverted V for diversity receive (what a great feature). I got on Google Earth and plotted out the areas I am interested in. I live just up the street from Elecrafts new HQ (talk about fast service) on the central coast of California (CM96CX). A bearing of 118 deg (antenna runs from 28 to 208 deg) cuts across Central America and South America on one side and across Manila and Singapore, skirting Japan, on the other (298 deg). This is a great coverage for me as I used to live in Singapore and spent lots of time in Asia (work) and Central America (not work). The next one is 32 deg (antenna runs from 122 to 302 deg) which cuts through London and Rome on to the Middle East. The other side is not too much, Tahiti and the South Pacific. I am thinking of a reflector on this one as there is not allot at 212 deg that interests me and that should help with Europe, I think. The next one is 78 deg (antenna runs from 122 to 302 deg) which cuts across the US through North Carolina, Bermuda and on to South Africa. The other side, 258 deg, runs through the Solomon Islands and right down the middle of Australia to Perth. I know the lobes will spread way out from these bearings over these long distances but these numbers are a starting point. The antennas will also cross forming a pattern similar to an asterisk on my roof/lot, a good thing I am guessing. I was thinking about Inverted V's for most of these until I checked what the side lobes would pick-up. On the 118 deg antenna it would be the South Pacific (no problem) and Europe (big interference problem while shooting for C/S America and SE Asia). The 32 deg would pick-up Japan, SE Asia on one side lobe and Mexico, Central America on the other. Too many unwanted signals if I am trying for Europe. The 78 deg side lobes would pick-up Alaska, central Russia and west India on one side and the South Pacific, places like Pitcairn, and on to Antarctica. Maybe an inverted V would be OK on this one. The Diversity may be a big inverted V or just an L shape long wire. I laid out a spread sheet with the lengths for a Dipole plus 15 deg, 22 deg, 30 deg, 37 deg, 45 deg, 60 deg and 75 deg inverted V's from 160 to 2 meters using the center of the Extra class bands (my next conquest) looking for some magic number. Nothing jumps out at me but of course a ¼ wave 80 is close to a ½ wave 40, a ½ 60, ¼ 30 and so on. I think I can squeeze in a ¼ wave 80 meter dipole (~31.2 feet/side) in most directions and maybe a shorter one above this (easiest for me but technically wrong?). The longer one higher may be possible but won't be easy. 160 meters will be another project for another day. So my questions are: 1) What length would be best and give me the use of the most bands? Remember, I have a limited space. 2) How far from the dipole should a reflector be. It should be about 5% longer and grounded, right? 3) The auto-tuner on the K3 is amazing. Is it easier for it to tune an antenna that is to long or to short? I'm guessing long but I am not certain. 4) Any suggestions on which band/antenna length is best for these targets? I am mostly active late afternoon and evening (till about 10 PST) and mornings after 6. Thanks, Clint KI6SSN __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4687 (20091214) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.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] antenna farm
Hi Clint! Welcome to the reflector The reality is that most won't be able to place antennas high enough and free of surroundings to realize their text book or free space patterns, and it's more a case of you takes what you gets. It's a complicated matter, with many variables, all mostly beyond our control. 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP elecraftcov...@rfwave.net http://tinyurl.com/7lm3m5 __ 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] XV-144 heat
I'm sure they'd send you new covers if you request them Sent from my iPhone On Dec 14, 2009, at 7:07 AM, David Pratt da...@g4dmp.fsnet.co.uk wrote: This is one of the disadvantages of buying when equipment is newly available. There were no holes in my XV144 top and bottom case panels. I must remember to wait awhile in future until all the initial changes have been made. 73 David G4DMP In a recent message, Eric gliderboy1...@yahoo.com wrote ... My xv 144 has holes on both the top and bottom cover as it came from the factory -- David G4DMP Leeds, England, UK -- __ 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] OT: antenna farm
Clint, I don't know all your constraints, but since you are considering putting up multiple individual antennas to work in opposite directions, you may want to consider reversible wire beams or reversible Moxon rectangles. There is a wealth of information at www.cebik.com (free to create a userid) and at the Moxon Antenna Project (see, e.g., http://www.moxonantennaproject.com/w8egb/w8egb_reverse.htm ) Good luck! Brian K1LI __ 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] antenna farm
and evening (till about 10 PST) and mornings after 6. Thanks, Clint KI6SSN __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4687 (20091214) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.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] antenna farm OOPS
dipole (~31.2 feet/side) in most directions and maybe a shorter one above this (easiest for me but technically wrong?). The longer one higher may be possible but won't be easy. 160 meters will be another project for another day. So my questions are: 1) What length would be best and give me the use of the most bands? Remember, I have a limited space. 2) How far from the dipole should a reflector be. It should be about 5% longer and grounded, right? 3) The auto-tuner on the K3 is amazing. Is it easier for it to tune an antenna that is to long or to short? I'm guessing long but I am not certain. 4) Any suggestions on which band/antenna length is best for these targets? I am mostly active late afternoon and evening (till about 10 PST) and mornings after 6. Thanks, Clint KI6SSN __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4687 (20091214) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.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 __ 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] KPA100 problem
Good Morning Don / Andrew: I very much appreciate both your suggestions. DON:I do have the KPA100UPKT installed and R4 is 100K. So, I will lift D8 and see what results I get. BUT first, I'll check the caps in the rectifier section as Andrew suggests to make sure all is well there. Now to call Mouser and get another MAX1406 on the way Thanks guys and I'll keep you up on how things work out. 72JerryN0JRN On 12/14/2009 6:22:37 AM, Don Wilhelm (d...@w3fpr.com) wrote: Jerry, I will take back what I said about U4 - it is faulty. That negative voltage is there only to allow the RS-232 drivers to produce a negative level, the current draw should be minimal. The only thing U4 does is convert RS-232 levels to TTL levels and vice-versa. Actually -28 volts is a bit much and does exceed the maximum speced voltage for the chip. -12 volts is more than sufficient and even -5 volts is OK, so lowering the voltage a bit will help with the life of the chip. Do you have the KPA100UPKT installed (look for blue toroid cores at L16 and RFC1)? If installed, change R4 to 100k if it is not already. If R4 is already 100k or you have red toroid cores at L15 and L16, remove D8 to drop the negative voltage to about half its present value. The KPA100 amplifier will function fine without U4 installed, but you will not be able to use the RS-232 portion of the AUX I//O connector. 73, Don W3FPR __ 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] Problems with KRX3 Install
I finally gave up looking for a config that I missed and took the top cover off to check the TMP connections. Well, either I knocked it off while trying to route the cables before I set the KRX3 down in or I just didn't get it on right in the first place, but, the 6 cable from J82 on the KRX3 and J5 on the KREF3 board was off from J5. Plugged it back in and I am good to go! Rick K6LE __ 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] 2 meter module
Is the ship start date 12-17-09 still solid, please. Phil Philip LaMarche LaMarche Enterprises, Inc. http://www.instantgourmetspices.com/ www.instantgourmetspices.com www.w9dvm.com http://www.w9dvm.com/ 800-395-7795 pin 02 727-944-3226 FAX 727-937-8834 NASFT 30210 K3 #1605 CCA 98 00827 CRA 1701 W9DVM __ 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: Re: antenna farm
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:38:33 -0500 To: Clint clint.st...@sbcglobal.net From: Jim Dunstan jduns...@tbaytel.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] antenna farm At 10:17 AM 12/14/2009 -0800, you wrote: So my questions are: 1) What length would be best and give me the use of the most bands? Remember, I have a limited space. 2) How far from the dipole should a reflector be. It should be about 5% longer and grounded, right? 3) The auto-tuner on the K3 is amazing. Is it easier for it to tune an antenna that is to long or to short? I'm guessing long but I am not certain. 4) Any suggestions on which band/antenna length is best for these targets? I am mostly active late afternoon and evening (till about 10 PST) and mornings after 6. Thanks, Clint KI6SSN I believe you missed out the most important question concerning a dipole height !! The radiation pattern of a dipole is basically broadside ... and maintains that pattern (with increased broad side gain) as it is made longer up to approximately 1 wavelength or a bit more. After this length the (horizontal) radiation pattern starts to break up into multiple lobes (making the pattern unpredictable). That eminent antenna Guru ... Cebik ... studied this phenomena and stated that the dipole/doublet can maintain the predictable radiation pattern over a 4:1 frequency range. Given this 4:1 range you could choose 10m as the highest frequency making 44 ft the doublet length covering 40-10m or choose 20m making the 88 ft doublet covering 80-20m. In both cases it becomes difficult (but possible) to feed the antenna at the lowest frequency (40m in the first case of 44 ft ... and 80m in the second case of 88 ft). However 44ft is great for 30-10m and 88 ft is great for 40-20m. You have to realize that the doublet in either length is non-resonant ... and will have to be fed either with an antenna coupler ... such as those made by SGC followed by coax... or a low loss balanced feed line and antenna tuner. I personally like the 44 ft version as it can be constructed as a rotatable dipole I feed mine with open wire line to a balanced tuner in the shack. it is mounted at 55ft height ideal for 10 15 mtrs very gud at 20m and just gud at 40m. I use a different wire antenna for 80m. I can rotate it ... but rarely need to do so. except when propagation is clearly needed north and south ... otherwise it is always broadside to east and west. I have no difficulty working DX 30-10m and occasionally with 40m. However getting the doublet up in that 50-70 ft range is much more important than which way it faces. Here in N.A. getting the wire broadside to E.W. is all you need for a start. there are some Antenna reflectors that discuss this topic regularly. Jim, VE3CI __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4687 (20091214) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.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] antenna farm
As Ken mentioned, height is an important factor in a horizontal or semi-horizontal antenna. There's limited gain in any direction at low angles unless the radiator is 1/2 wavelength above ground. That's why most of us have to live with little directivity on the lower bands. The option is to consider verticals. Unless you are living on salt water (or atop a sheet of copper), or can make the vertical a full 1/2 wave high, the vertical won't be as efficient as doublet or dipole, but a vertical will produce typically much better signals at lower angles of radiation than a horizontal antenna (under 1/2 wave high) and doesn't require a huge 'footprint'. Also you can phase multiple verticals for directivity and even design them so you can use them for supports for horizontal wires on the higher bands. You've probably noticed that 45 foot verticals are being heavily promoted these days. That's an old design that is very handy for limited space. It provides low angles of radiation on all bands up through 20 meters where it's 5/8 wavelength high (on bands where it's more than 5/8 wavelength the angle of the main lobe rises from the horizontal and minor lobes appear at high angles). Down on 80 meters it's just a bit shy of 1/4 wavelength. With a good ground system it can produce excellent results down there and even on 160 - especially when compared with the short, low (in wavelengths above ground) antennas most of us are forced to use on those bands 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] 2 meter module
Phil Lamarche wrote: Is the ship start date 12-17-09 still solid, please. Phil, I don't feel that it ever WAS solid. It is just the latest estimate, based on parts that had not arrived yet. An update would be nice, but I don't look at the 17th (my birthday, BTW) as a firm commitment. I never did. I know it will be shipped when ready. As Wayne once said to me, No wine before it's time... 73, Bruce N1RX __ 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] Mic Gain and CMP
A question, I'm using a Heil PR781 with my K3 it seams to me that I have to use high mic gain and CMP. I have the mic gain at 40 and the CMP at 22. Are these levels comparable with other 781 users? Thank you. R Thorpe KD6LAZ/AE __ 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] Mic Gain and CMP
There are two ranges on the mic gain. Do you have yours set to L (low) or H (high)? For most Heil mics, it should be set to H. 73, Don W3FPR Richard Thorpe wrote: A question, I'm using a Heil PR781 with my K3 it seams to me that I have to use high mic gain and CMP. I have the mic gain at 40 and the CMP at 22. Are these levels comparable with other 781 users? Thank you. R Thorpe KD6LAZ/AE __ 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: 9.0.716 / Virus Database: 270.14.107/2564 - Release Date: 12/14/09 02:37:00 __ 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: Online K3 Demo
I suspect that there are quite a few of people around the world who would like to test drive a K3 before actually buying one, and many of them don't live near anyone who already owns one. It might be helpful (that's what this list is for, right?) for someone to set up a K3 with remote control capability so that anyone anywhere could at least listen with it using HRD or similar rig control software. It wouldn't necessarily have transmit enabled, but it could demostrate what is probably the rig's premium capability ... it's receive performance. And although users wouldn't be able to directly check the ergonomics of the K3, they might be able to do so indirectly. As many K3 owners have already pointed out, once you have the K3 set up the way you want it there isn't a lot of need to change anything while operating it ... particularly during a contest. Even remote operation of the rig would help confirm that. Just a thought. Has anyone already done something like this? 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
Re: [Elecraft] antenna farm
Hello Clint, While planning your antenna farm, have you considered using an antenna modelling program such as EZNEC which could be of great help to you. A free version comes with the ARRL Antenna Handbook. Due to the effect of nearby objects such as above ground power lines, metal gutters etc etc and trees on antennas, such a program cannot be expected to tell the whole truth unless these objects are included in the model, which can be difficult to do properly, but it can and usually does show the effect of other nearby antennas on the pattern of the antenna in use. Unfortunately the geographical bearing to a distant DX station is not always the same bearing at which the signal actually arrives. For example here on 40m the short path into CA is often skewed by as much as 50 degrees via Central /S.America. Also the vertical angle of arrival of the closer East Coast stations can vary considerably - often very high angle. The variation in bearing and angle of arrival of long distance DX stations here on 15m is usually very much less. So my suggestion FWIW is that you consider using EZNEC to plan your farm, put up an antenna which serves your main operating interests and directions (within the imposed constraints), and add other antennas ONLY if they do not compromise the performance of your main antenna. This does not answer your questions directly, but if you use EZNEC you should be able to get some ideas. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Clint clint.st...@sbcglobal.net wrote on Monday, December 14, 2009 at 6:17 PM Fellow Elecrafters, I have a feeling this may open the flood gates but here goes. I am a newbie Ham but a long time SWL going back to my Knight Kit Star Roamer. I am fixin' to set-up my antenna farm. OK, it will be more like an antenna garden as I have a small house and lot. My K3/100 has a KAT3 and KRX3. I plan on using 3 Dipoles and maybe an inverted V for diversity receive (what a great feature). I got on Google Earth and plotted out the areas I am interested in. I live just up the street from Elecrafts new HQ (talk about fast service) on the central coast of California (CM96CX). snip __ 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] antenna farm
And, if you don't have enough space for a radial field on the ground, try a vertical doublet, center fed with balanced line for multi-band operation. I've been using one for years which is 32 ft. tall and can be loaded easily from 30 meters to 15 meters. Much better for dx than my low dipole and the elevated feedpoint (at 16 ft.) seems to help overcome ground clutter (enclosing block walls etc.). The wire is supported by a 32 ft. telescoping fiberglass pole, with footprint less than one square foot! Bob NW8L On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 12:58 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: As Ken mentioned, height is an important factor in a horizontal or semi-horizontal antenna. There's limited gain in any direction at low angles unless the radiator is 1/2 wavelength above ground. That's why most of us have to live with little directivity on the lower bands. The option is to consider verticals. Unless you are living on salt water (or atop a sheet of copper), or can make the vertical a full 1/2 wave high, the vertical won't be as efficient as doublet or dipole, but a vertical will produce typically much better signals at lower angles of radiation than a horizontal antenna (under 1/2 wave high) and doesn't require a huge 'footprint'. Also you can phase multiple verticals for directivity and even design them so you can use them for supports for horizontal wires on the higher bands. You've probably noticed that 45 foot verticals are being heavily promoted these days. That's an old design that is very handy for limited space. It provides low angles of radiation on all bands up through 20 meters where it's 5/8 wavelength high (on bands where it's more than 5/8 wavelength the angle of the main lobe rises from the horizontal and minor lobes appear at high angles). Down on 80 meters it's just a bit shy of 1/4 wavelength. With a good ground system it can produce excellent results down there and even on 160 - especially when compared with the short, low (in wavelengths above ground) antennas most of us are forced to use on those bands 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] antenna farm
160-10 One antenna. I have a Zero Five 43 ft vertical and the matching network described in Dec QST for 80/160. Most bands are close to flat and only one band needs one touch of the K3 ATU. Works very well. I have a Pro 67 B Mosley beam at 72 feet and when switching back and forth, it surprises me. Small yard space. Drive some ground rods down and put out a few wires buried in the soil. Phil Philip LaMarche LaMarche Enterprises, Inc. www.instantgourmetspices.com www.w9dvm.com 800-395-7795 pin 02 727-944-3226 FAX 727-937-8834 NASFT 30210 K3 #1605 CCA 98 00827 CRA 1701 W9DVM -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bob Cunnings Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 3:48 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] antenna farm And, if you don't have enough space for a radial field on the ground, try a vertical doublet, center fed with balanced line for multi-band operation. I've been using one for years which is 32 ft. tall and can be loaded easily from 30 meters to 15 meters. Much better for dx than my low dipole and the elevated feedpoint (at 16 ft.) seems to help overcome ground clutter (enclosing block walls etc.). The wire is supported by a 32 ft. telescoping fiberglass pole, with footprint less than one square foot! __ 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: Online K3 Demo
Dave, I think that's a good idea, particularly since I've heard some hams comment that they bought one rig and not another because of the ability to operate it remotely (couldn't transmit, of course - no control op). This demo could tip the balance for that segment of the market. Brian K1LI On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 3:45 PM, David Gilbert xda...@cis-broadband.comwrote: And although users wouldn't be able to directly check the ergonomics of the K3, they might be able to do so indirectly. As many K3 owners have already pointed out, once you have the K3 set up the way you want it there isn't a lot of need to change anything while operating it ... particularly during a contest. Even remote operation of the rig would help confirm that. __ 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: Online K3 Demo
So far as I know,nobody has done it yet but my qth has the doors opened to anyone who live in palm beach county,FL to come and see it working in all bands and modes.Its fully loaded with the latest FW version. AD4C For a refined ham it is compulsory to own a k3 --- On Mon, 12/14/09, David Gilbert xda...@cis-broadband.com wrote: From: David Gilbert xda...@cis-broadband.com Subject: [Elecraft] K3: Online K3 Demo To: elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Monday, December 14, 2009, 8:45 PM I suspect that there are quite a few of people around the world who would like to test drive a K3 before actually buying one, and many of them don't live near anyone who already owns one. It might be helpful (that's what this list is for, right?) for someone to set up a K3 with remote control capability so that anyone anywhere could at least listen with it using HRD or similar rig control software. It wouldn't necessarily have transmit enabled, but it could demostrate what is probably the rig's premium capability ... it's receive performance. And although users wouldn't be able to directly check the ergonomics of the K3, they might be able to do so indirectly. As many K3 owners have already pointed out, once you have the K3 set up the way you want it there isn't a lot of need to change anything while operating it ... particularly during a contest. Even remote operation of the rig would help confirm that. Just a thought. Has anyone already done something like this? 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 __ 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] antenna farm
Duncan Carter wrote: Even if you don't have space for a large radial field, you are apt to do better with elevated radials, even one radial ( the lower half of the dipoles) as I have. Putting wire in or on the ground is mainly useful for keeping earthworms warm. To read a lively debate on this subject which includes links to two excellent technical references, see all three pages of: http://www.eham.net/forums/Elmers/237953 73, Dunc, W5DC Bob Cunnings wrote: And, if you don't have enough space for a radial field on the ground, try a vertical doublet, center fed with balanced line for multi-band operation. I've been using one for years which is 32 ft. tall and can be loaded easily from 30 meters to 15 meters. Much better for dx than my low dipole and the elevated feedpoint (at 16 ft.) seems to help overcome ground clutter (enclosing block walls etc.). The wire is supported by a 32 ft. telescoping fiberglass pole, with footprint less than one square foot! Bob NW8L On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 12:58 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: As Ken mentioned, height is an important factor in a horizontal or semi-horizontal antenna. There's limited gain in any direction at low angles unless the radiator is 1/2 wavelength above ground. That's why most of us have to live with little directivity on the lower bands. The option is to consider verticals. Unless you are living on salt water (or atop a sheet of copper), or can make the vertical a full 1/2 wave high, the vertical won't be as efficient as doublet or dipole, but a vertical will produce typically much better signals at lower angles of radiation than a horizontal antenna (under 1/2 wave high) and doesn't require a huge 'footprint'. Also you can phase multiple verticals for directivity and even design them so you can use them for supports for horizontal wires on the higher bands. You've probably noticed that 45 foot verticals are being heavily promoted these days. That's an old design that is very handy for limited space. It provides low angles of radiation on all bands up through 20 meters where it's 5/8 wavelength high (on bands where it's more than 5/8 wavelength the angle of the main lobe rises from the horizontal and minor lobes appear at high angles). Down on 80 meters it's just a bit shy of 1/4 wavelength. With a good ground system it can produce excellent results down there and even on 160 - especially when compared with the short, low (in wavelengths above ground) antennas most of us are forced to use on those bands 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] antenna farm
wrong?). The longer one higher may be possible but won't be easy. 160 meters will be another project for another day. So my questions are: 1) What length would be best and give me the use of the most bands? Remember, I have a limited space. 2) How far from the dipole should a reflector be. It should be about 5% longer and grounded, right? 3) The auto-tuner on the K3 is amazing. Is it easier for it to tune an antenna that is to long or to short? I'm guessing long but I am not certain. 4) Any suggestions on which band/antenna length is best for these targets? I am mostly active late afternoon and evening (till about 10 PST) and mornings after 6. Thanks, Clint KI6SSN __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4687 (20091214) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.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] antenna farm
I certainly second Geoff's suggestion of EZNEC. While I'm wary of modeling programs in general (remember, garbage in, garbage out), I use EZNEC to give me a feel for what can be done in a certain set of conditions and to draw a general idea of whether a design or change is likely to be worth implementing. I have used the full version for years, and consider it worth every penny of the roughly US$100 it costs. (http://www.eznec.com/) EZNEC takes a bit of effort to learn to use at its fullest capabilities, but it's a lot less physical effort (and more comfortable in the winter) than climbing about up trees and raising masts for months and months ;-) And it's fun... Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 12:45 PM To: Clint Cc: Elecraft Discussion List Subject: Re: [Elecraft] antenna farm Hello Clint, While planning your antenna farm, have you considered using an antenna modelling program such as EZNEC which could be of great help to you. A free version comes with the ARRL Antenna Handbook. __ 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] antenna farm
On Dec 14, 2009, at 12:45 PM, Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy wrote: While planning your antenna farm, have you considered using an antenna modelling program such as EZNEC which could be of great help to you. A free version comes with the ARRL Antenna Handbook. This is the approach I am taking, though I ended up buying EZNEC+ as I have a lot of architectural metal in my 3-story town home over the Santa Cruz small craft harbor. The first story is also stucco, which has a bunch of wire in it as well, as are the other nearby homes in my complex. My goals are to try and determine why the placement of my current wire dipoles is so poor, and then to see if I can model something that will have theoretically better performance before I go through the effort of constructing and hanging my next low-visibility antenna(s). So far, just looking at the plots as I add more of the large bits of metal in my home to the model has been instructive. Byron KI6NUL p.s. One of the first things in the EZNEC instructions is a word from the author about how amateurs with limited space often wonder why their 3 antennas do not work well, and he points out they really have 1 antenna with 3 feed points due to their spacing. __ 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] antenna farm
Byron Servies wrote: On Dec 14, 2009, at 12:45 PM, Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy wrote: This is the approach I am taking, though I ended up buying EZNEC+ as I have a lot of architectural metal in my 3-story town home over the Santa Cruz small craft harbor. The first story is also stucco, which has a bunch of wire in it as well, as are the other nearby homes in my complex. If that's salt water, try a vertical! -- 73, Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA http://www.qsl.net/k2vco __ 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: Online K3 Demo
In addition to the online remote K3, I think some well-produced videos showing the K3 in action in various modes, assembly and setup tutorials, feature demonstrations, etc. would be great. The Ten-Tec site has something along these lines. There are some good K3 videos on YouTube like WU2X and WW2DX demonstrating LP-Pan and PowerSDR with the K3, and I'd love to see more along these lines -- like a demo video with high quality stereo audio that would really let someone experience the advantages of diversity receive, for example, or one showing a sneak preview of the P3 panadapter. Stuff aimed not just at prospective K3 buyers but also at people who already own the K3 but still have cash left over. ;-) 73, WW2PT David Gilbert wrote: I suspect that there are quite a few of people around the world who would like to test drive a K3 before actually buying one, and many of them don't live near anyone who already owns one. It might be helpful (that's what this list is for, right?) for someone to set up a K3 with remote control capability so that anyone anywhere could at least listen with it using HRD or similar rig control software. It wouldn't necessarily have transmit enabled, but it could demostrate what is probably the rig's premium capability ... it's receive performance. And although users wouldn't be able to directly check the ergonomics of the K3, they might be able to do so indirectly. As many K3 owners have already pointed out, once you have the K3 set up the way you want it there isn't a lot of need to change anything while operating it ... particularly during a contest. Even remote operation of the rig would help confirm that. Just a thought. Has anyone already done something like this? 73, Dave AB7E -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-Online-K3-Demo-tp4166638p4167100.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 extract files to update K3 using Win 7 - problem solved!!!
I want to thank the individuals that responded to my Win 7 problem of unable to download files and unzip files. Since my Win 7 is new, I even called Microsoft and was on the phone for about three hours with one of their support personnel; the bottom line was he was not able to help other than letting me know that something was corrupt in the computer. The computer was in such bad shape that I could not even download or even get their Easy Assist to download. I finally was able to fix the problem myself with a very simple and extremely effective cure (three step process): (1) format the hard drive (2) load Win 7 back on the computer (3) re-install programs and associated files Everything is working like it should now. Over the years I have found the above three steps to have cured the most obstinate and perplexing problems that I have ever encountered with all of the versions of Microsoft operating systems. I highly recommend it, and the above three step procedure will certainly decrease your anxiety levels. Dick __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4687 (20091214) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.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] antenna farm
When I first put up my vertical, I only had 40 and 20 meters and mounted them on the opposite of my house from the current feed point location, that is, in between and close to the rain gutter and the metal chimney liner. The feed point resistance on 40 was as expected but the feed point resistance on 20 was about 1/3 of what I expected. Moving the center parts and feed point to the opposite side of the house gave feedpoint impedances as expected. I have no idea if the chimney liner is grounded or not. I haven't modeled the antenna but I still know how to calculate radiation restiances. Back in the day when I had hair on top of my head) I was an antenna designer for Collins and for Hy-Gain and a consultant afterwards. Dunc, W5DC Byron Servies wrote: On Dec 14, 2009, at 12:45 PM, Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy wrote: While planning your antenna farm, have you considered using an antenna modelling program such as EZNEC which could be of great help to you. A free version comes with the ARRL Antenna Handbook. This is the approach I am taking, though I ended up buying EZNEC+ as I have a lot of architectural metal in my 3-story town home over the Santa Cruz small craft harbor. The first story is also stucco, which has a bunch of wire in it as well, as are the other nearby homes in my complex. My goals are to try and determine why the placement of my current wire dipoles is so poor, and then to see if I can model something that will have theoretically better performance before I go through the effort of constructing and hanging my next low-visibility antenna(s). So far, just looking at the plots as I add more of the large bits of metal in my home to the model has been instructive. Byron KI6NUL p.s. One of the first things in the EZNEC instructions is a word from the author about how amateurs with limited space often wonder why their 3 antennas do not work well, and he points out they really have 1 antenna with 3 feed points due to their spacing. __ 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] Weird W2 problem - update
This happened several more times. I had been in PEP mode while all this happened but after I changed to average mode it has not happened again. Hope the coming firmware updates solve this issue. NZ0T wrote: Interesting problem with my W2 this morning. Was on 75 for a net at about 500 watts into (at first) a Windom and then a sloper. I have the 2KW 1.8-54 Mhz sensor. The 2KW range on the meter stopped working - acted as if I was in the 200W range. The other ranges also seemed shifted down with the 200W range acting like the 20W range. Also the meter would not turn off. Pushing the on/off button caused it to recycle but it stayed on. Very strange. I tried reinstalling the firmware with no success. Finally I unplugged the power cord, waited a minute, and plugged it back in. That did it - all is fine now. Could be RF from the Windom - mine tends to send RF back down the coax even with an RF choke in line. Anyone else had this happen? 73 Bill NZ0T -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Weird-W2-problem-tp4156475p4167222.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] Re： XV-144 heat
Hi David, If it is XV144, there is neither internal fan nor holes in the PCB beneath the fan area. For XV432, there is an internal fan plus holes under the fan area. As I mentioned in my earlier emails in this forum, I need to modify my XV144 in the way similar to the fan + PCB arrangement of XV432 so as to solve the heat issue. Without these modifications, XV144 will be extremely hot when operating under the power output 20W SSB/CW or 10W continous carrier modes. 73 Johnny VR2XMC - 郵件原件 寄件人﹕ David Ferrington, M0XDF m0...@alphadene.co.uk 收件人﹕ elecraft@mailman.qth.net 副本(CC) Eric gliderboy1...@yahoo.com 傳送日期﹕ 2009/12/14 (一) 11:14:35 PM 主題： Re: [Elecraft] XV-144 heat Are there holes in the PCB Eric? I must check my unmade kit that's been waiting 2 years! 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174 -- We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. -Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel laureate (1879-1955) On 14 Dec 2009, at 15:07, David Pratt wrote: There were no holes in my XV144 top and bottom case panels. In a recent message, Eric gliderboy1...@yahoo.com wrote ... My xv 144 has holes on both the top and bottom cover as it came from the factory -- David G4DMP Leeds, England, UK -- __ 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 Yahoo!香港提供網上安全攻略，教你如何防範黑客! 請前往 http://hk.promo.yahoo.com/security/ 了解更多! __ 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: Online K3 Demo
I'm with Dave on this one. Particularly something for those of us that are technically challenged. Really would like to see the P3 and CWSkimmer in action!!! Bring it on. de K2GN/Larry K3 - S/N 3278 that would really let someone experience the advantages of diversity receive, for example, or one showing a sneak preview of the P3 panadapter. Stuff aimed not just at prospective K3 buyers but also at people who already own the K3 but still have cash left over. ;-) 73, WW2PT __ 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 CW Net Report for December 13th 14th, 2009
David Ferrington, M0XDF wrote: What is a K4? Possibly a K1 driving a K3? 73 de M0XDF -- The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher. -Thomas Henry Huxley, biologist and writer (1825-1995) Impressive -- around 170 years old when he finally died! There is no way my body will last that long even if my mind does, which is clearly not likely given its state today. 73, Fred K6DGW Auburn CA USA __ 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 Aurora noice
OK, I'll top-post. Lennart, This exact thing happened to my K2 [#4398] about 18 months ago as I was getting set up outside for the Flight of the Bumblebees the end of July 2008. Weird, very wide band [like everywhere] noise on RX that sort of morphed as I tuned, equally noisy TX with nearly no power out. I got a # from Elecraft and sent the radio to Don. He found that the PLL chip was bad, fixed it, and then realigned my radio. Having it fixed was great. The realignment and improvements in how it worked were worth way more than what it cost me. Good luck, Fred K6DGW Auburn CA USA Lennart wrote: Hi, I have used my K2/10w a lot the last couple of years. Always a good performer on CW and very good audio reports on SSB. The KAT2 tunes any antenna I have tried an I have used it a lot portable. At one portable activity last summer the radio was exposed to direct sunlight for a while and got very hot. At that time the output power dropped sharply and receive appeared to listen to the whole band at once. This has happened a couple of times since then. The receive sounds like severe aurora noise covering almost all signals, the transmit on CW is just a low power very wide noise as well. It must be very early in the oscillator stage somewhere, the PLL or something stop working. If I change band it is the same thing on the higher bands. Then suddenly gone and the radio is OK for a moth. Very irritating on portable expeditions or when it happens in the middle of a QSO. I have no clue where to start. I have tried to find a bad connection or bad solder. Is there a PLL reference oscillatior that could make it act like this, or where should I look? Regards, Lennart - SM6KNL __ 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] Unusual 10 meter-PA tripped out
I hope this hasn't already been figured out, sorry if it has. Rig is S/N 3162 I was CQing with the K3's digital voice recorder on 10 meters yesterday at 100w, I noticed that the SWR is bouncing up to the 3+ end of the scale on the voice peaks. I stopped, checked the SWR with the K3's bridge, SWR=1.6:1 and the MFJ-969 tuner also read approx. 1.5:1, so I kept CQing and after 5-10 minutes the circuit breaker for the PA tripped and wouldn't reset until it cooled down. Then I turned down the output to about 70w and CQed for about 20 minutes more with no more trouble. I took the K3 to a friend's QTH and the SWR bouncing to the 3+ range was the same but I didn't run it long enough to see if the circuit breaker would trip. Any thoughts? Bob KB1FRW 73 __ 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 - USB monitor
Found this little self powered USB monitor and am trying to think up a good application for the K3, LP-PAN etc. At $80 it's almost irresistible. http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/c609/ Steve N4LQ n...@carolina.rr.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] Unusual 10 meter-PA tripped out
Hi Bob, You know, I've noticed the same sort of SWR bouncing behavior running some MFSK digital modes on just about any band. I haven't noticed any problems because of it (i.e. I haven't had the circuit breaker trip like you mentioned,) but it does seen a little odd. I need to try it transmitting into my dummy load to make sure it's not something weird with my antenna. 73 -- Joe KB8AP On Dec 14, 2009, at 3:59 PM, Bob Allen wrote: I was CQing with the K3's digital voice recorder on 10 meters yesterday at 100w, I noticed that the SWR is bouncing up to the 3+ end of the scale on the voice peaks. __ 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] IF-out from sub-rcvr?
Hi, Is there a way to have the IF-out from the KVX-3 be from the sub-receiver? My K-3 is on order and I have been reading the K-3 manual carefully but have seen nothing on this. The block diagram makes me doubt this is possible, but I thought I'd ask. Thanks, Ken AK1Q __ 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 ACC Power
Like many on this list I have wired up an automotive relay (with protection diode) to power multiple devices from the K3 switched power jack. Wouldn't this make a great product from Elecraft? It would be in a nice, K3-matching box with extra room for spare mojo AND, if I were designing it, at least one power on LED or even better an overly complex set of status lights that would flash out patterns with the W2 when they power up together or even a voice that said, Good Morning, Dave. Mounting ears allow it to be mounted under a shelf or desk. It would have multiple outlets, both RCA and QRP Coaxial, a 20-amp capability, AND a bypass switch to power devices when the K3 was not on if needed. For example, I have a Top Ten Devices band decoder and relay box that are powered from the K3 relay, but when I use a rig other than the K3 I still need power for manual antenna switching and for using the W2. Currently Elecraft has produced the W2 and PR6 to be powered from the K3 acc jack. Will the P3 also be powered from there? That leaves the K3 power jack over-subscribed, not to mention those of us who will be buying a second W2 to accomodate the high-power VHF/UHF sensor WHEN it becomes available (if I may indulge in wishful thinking). 73, Eric WD6DBM __ 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 - USB monitor
Found this little self powered USB monitor and am trying to think up a good application for the K3, LP-PAN etc. It would certainly be ideal for SpectraVue (SDR-IQ) as a panadapter. The windowed size is less than 480x800 even with all controls visible. 73, ... Joe, W4TV -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Steve Ellington Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 7:42 PM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - USB monitor Found this little self powered USB monitor and am trying to think up a good application for the K3, LP-PAN etc. At $80 it's almost irresistible. http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/c609/ Steve N4LQ n...@carolina.rr.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] [K3] 150 watt boots for 160m
In technical school after being a HAM for over 9 years I learned that it took 10Db change in level to perceive a doubling of audible signal level,,, 3 db hard to detect. I worked on modems during the Vietnam at a site for 1 year after tech school and all our old equipment was lab quality. I did this all day long for 6 days a week for a year. I know and heard what I write. Bill K9YEQ K2-#35 (2 more), KX1-#35, K3, TS2000, IC7000, etc. From: r...@cobi.biz To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:16:54 -0800 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] 150 watt boots for 160m Quite right Bill, in an audio laboratory or perhaps in a very quiet telephone circuit. But radio communications is different according to what I learned in school, lo' these many years past. Over half a century ago most radio communications engineers began using 3 dB (2:1 power ratio) as the minimum change in a signal level that would normally be just discernable to the listener, considering typical band noise and QSB. That was based in actual on-the-air observations by a great many operators over time. When considering changing my power level, I never consider it worthwhile to change less than 3 dB and more typically 6 to 10 dB as the minimum worth bothering with (e.g. shifting from a K2/10 at 10-15 watts CW to a K2/100 was a just worthwhile shift). When I was much younger and more innocent I used to scramble for each little watt, exulting in running 30 watts instead of 20 watts from a 6L6, for example, or tweaking my 6146 rig to run 90 instead of 75 watts and feeling sure that made a big difference. It sure seemed to produce more results from calls. But, looking back over logs over time, it was clearly an illusion.. That's when I acquired the sign that still hangs over my desk to remind me that Believing is Seeing. So I don't argue with people who want to make what is a quantifiable silly choice. Instead I say, If you want to do it and you believe it's worth it, do it. I'm no different. After all, we humans make most of our choices based on emotion and then we use rational logic to justify the choice. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From 100 to 150, for 1.7 dB, when Bell Laboratories research (with huge capital investment and telephone maintenance dollars on the line) determined that 3 dB was the signal strength change discernment for most people? I'm not sure who said 3 dB was the minimum detectable by a listener but I believe it's incorrect. 1 dB roughly matched the smallest attenuation detectable to an average listener. (see below) The decibel originates from methods used to quantify reductions in audio levels in telephone circuits. These losses were originally measured in units of Miles of Standard Cable (MSC), where 1 MSC corresponded to the loss of power over a 1 mile (approximately 1.6 km) length of standard telephone cable at a frequency of 5000 radians per second (795.8 Hz) and roughly matched the smallest attenuation detectable to an average listener. Standard telephone cable was defined as a cable having uniformly distributed resistances of 88 ohms per loop mile and uniformly distributed shunt capacitance of .054 microfarad per mile (approximately 19 gauge). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel#History 73, Bill __ 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 _ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ __ 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] 150 watt boots for 160m
In technical school after being a HAM for over 9 years I learned that it took 10Db change in level to perceive a doubling of audible signal level,,, 3 db hard to detect. I worked on modems during the Vietnam at a site for 1 year after tech school and all our old equipment was lab quality. I did this all day long for 6 days a week for a year. I know and heard what I write. Bill K9YEQ K2-#35 (2 more), KX1-#35, K3, TS2000, IC7000, etc. From: r...@cobi.biz To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:16:54 -0800 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] 150 watt boots for 160m Quite right Bill, in an audio laboratory or perhaps in a very quiet telephone circuit. But radio communications is different according to what I learned in school, lo' these many years past. Over half a century ago most radio communications engineers began using 3 dB (2:1 power ratio) as the minimum change in a signal level that would normally be just discernable to the listener, considering typical band noise and QSB. That was based in actual on-the-air observations by a great many operators over time. When considering changing my power level, I never consider it worthwhile to change less than 3 dB and more typically 6 to 10 dB as the minimum worth bothering with (e.g. shifting from a K2/10 at 10-15 watts CW to a K2/100 was a just worthwhile shift). When I was much younger and more innocent I used to scramble for each little watt, exulting in running 30 watts instead of 20 watts from a 6L6, for example, or tweaking my 6146 rig to run 90 instead of 75 watts and feeling sure that made a big difference. It sure seemed to produce more results from calls. But, looking back over logs over time, it was clearly an illusion.. That's when I acquired the sign that still hangs over my desk to remind me that Believing is Seeing. So I don't argue with people who want to make what is a quantifiable silly choice. Instead I say, If you want to do it and you believe it's worth it, do it. I'm no different. After all, we humans make most of our choices based on emotion and then we use rational logic to justify the choice. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From 100 to 150, for 1.7 dB, when Bell Laboratories research (with huge capital investment and telephone maintenance dollars on the line) determined that 3 dB was the signal strength change discernment for most people? I'm not sure who said 3 dB was the minimum detectable by a listener but I believe it's incorrect. 1 dB roughly matched the smallest attenuation detectable to an average listener. (see below) The decibel originates from methods used to quantify reductions in audio levels in telephone circuits. These losses were originally measured in units of Miles of Standard Cable (MSC), where 1 MSC corresponded to the loss of power over a 1 mile (approximately 1.6 km) length of standard telephone cable at a frequency of 5000 radians per second (795.8 Hz) and roughly matched the smallest attenuation detectable to an average listener. Standard telephone cable was defined as a cable having uniformly distributed resistances of 88 ohms per loop mile and uniformly distributed shunt capacitance of .054 microfarad per mile (approximately 19 gauge). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel#History 73, Bill __ 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 _ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ __ 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] 150 watt boots for 160m
Bill, I do not dispute anything you say, but, I would like to offer the following: Recently I was having a QSO with a mobile station using a mono-band antenna on a motor home, he was able to switch between a Kenwood TS-480SAT (100w) and a TS-480HX (200w) radios. Both radios used the same antenna and repeated switches between them revealed the following: TS-480SAT @100w gave me S-3 on my K3 with no pre-amp TS-480HX @200w gave me S-4+ with no pre-amp Audio wise (ssb) I was able to hear the 480SAT but copy was not 100 percent. The 480HX was easier to copy and was 100 percent readable. I know this is less than Lab quality material, but it demonstrated to me that 200w is likely to be better a significant number of times more than using 100w The frequency we were on was 7.103 LSB where us motorhomers hang out in VK Land. I would opt for a 200w PA in a heartbeat and judging by the sales of the 480's in VK there is definitely a market for a 200w PA. 73's Gary VK4FD Sent via BlackBerry® from Telstra -Original Message- From: Bill Johnson k9...@live.com Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:07:24 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] 150 watt boots for 160m In technical school after being a HAM for over 9 years I learned that it took 10Db change in level to perceive a doubling of audible signal level,,, 3 db hard to detect. I worked on modems during the Vietnam at a site for 1 year after tech school and all our old equipment was lab quality. I did this all day long for 6 days a week for a year. I know and heard what I write. Bill K9YEQ K2-#35 (2 more), KX1-#35, K3, TS2000, IC7000, etc. From: r...@cobi.biz To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:16:54 -0800 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] 150 watt boots for 160m Quite right Bill, in an audio laboratory or perhaps in a very quiet telephone circuit. But radio communications is different according to what I learned in school, lo' these many years past. Over half a century ago most radio communications engineers began using 3 dB (2:1 power ratio) as the minimum change in a signal level that would normally be just discernable to the listener, considering typical band noise and QSB. That was based in actual on-the-air observations by a great many operators over time. When considering changing my power level, I never consider it worthwhile to change less than 3 dB and more typically 6 to 10 dB as the minimum worth bothering with (e.g. shifting from a K2/10 at 10-15 watts CW to a K2/100 was a just worthwhile shift). When I was much younger and more innocent I used to scramble for each little watt, exulting in running 30 watts instead of 20 watts from a 6L6, for example, or tweaking my 6146 rig to run 90 instead of 75 watts and feeling sure that made a big difference. It sure seemed to produce more results from calls. But, looking back over logs over time, it was clearly an illusion.. That's when I acquired the sign that still hangs over my desk to remind me that Believing is Seeing. So I don't argue with people who want to make what is a quantifiable silly choice. Instead I say, If you want to do it and you believe it's worth it, do it. I'm no different. After all, we humans make most of our choices based on emotion and then we use rational logic to justify the choice. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From 100 to 150, for 1.7 dB, when Bell Laboratories research (with huge capital investment and telephone maintenance dollars on the line) determined that 3 dB was the signal strength change discernment for most people? I'm not sure who said 3 dB was the minimum detectable by a listener but I believe it's incorrect. 1 dB roughly matched the smallest attenuation detectable to an average listener. (see below) The decibel originates from methods used to quantify reductions in audio levels in telephone circuits. These losses were originally measured in units of Miles of Standard Cable (MSC), where 1 MSC corresponded to the loss of power over a 1 mile (approximately 1.6 km) length of standard telephone cable at a frequency of 5000 radians per second (795.8 Hz) and roughly matched the smallest attenuation detectable to an average listener. Standard telephone cable was defined as a cable having uniformly distributed resistances of 88 ohms per loop mile and uniformly distributed shunt capacitance of .054 microfarad per mile (approximately 19 gauge). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel#History 73, Bill __ 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] KPA100 problem
Don: Just to clarify ! The -28V's I'm seeing at pin 8 of U4 is measured without the IC installed. Lets say for the sake of conversation that I install a good MAX1406 and it draws on the rectifier circuit a minimal amount. Would / could that bring the -28V's back into specs for this chip???. ( I have to figure Wayne designed the circuit taking this draw into consideration ) OR is my -28V's so abnormal that I need to be looking at other issues in my rectifier pack to bring this negative voltage back into spec ??? Could the negative voltage I'm getting be responsible for damaging this chip ??? I have 2 new chips coming from Mouser. I'm not installing them until I'm satisfied that I've checked and double checked EVERYTHING involved. Thanks again and happy holidays to the group: 72 Jerry N0JRN - Original Message - From: Don Wilhelm d...@w3fpr.com To: n0jrn n0...@mchsi.com Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 6:22 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA100 problem Jerry, I will take back what I said about U4 - it is faulty. That negative voltage is there only to allow the RS-232 drivers to produce a negative level, the current draw should be minimal. The only thing U4 does is convert RS-232 levels to TTL levels and vice-versa. Actually -28 volts is a bit much and does exceed the maximum speced voltage for the chip. -12 volts is more than sufficient and even -5 __ 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 - 100 vs 200 watts
Yes, 200 watts is better than 100 and it may even be possible to put it in the K3, but then you will want 400 or 600 and that is not the way to get it. IMHO, there is a lot to be gained by going from 100 to 400 or 500 watts (or pick your own number) and not really much benefit beyond that to go all the way to 1500 unless you are trying to bust pileups. There are several amplifiers out there, even new, that aren't really all that expensive. If you just want to talk mostly anywhere anytime, 400-600 watts will do the trick for all practical purposes. AL811, new list is 749 and will do better than 500 and the ALS500 if you want solid state (849 new list) from 12 volts will do 500 watts just fine (battery close enough and mutiple short #10 wires to it). Used they are very reasonable. I am glad I have a SUPER Radio they put their time into and will put my own amp behind it. K3 #1442, 73, de Jim KG0KP __ 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] 回覆: K3 - 100 vs 200 watts
i am still looking for kpa800 or kpa1600. A kit serviceable by us is awaited. 73 Johnny vr2xmc Jim Miller KG0KP wrote: Yes, 200 watts is better than 100 and it may even be possible to put it in the K3, but then you will want 400 or 600 and that is not the way to get it. IMHO, there is a lot to be gained by going from 100 to 400 or 500 watts (or pick your own number) and not really much benefit beyond that to go all the way to 1500 unless you are trying to bust pileups. There are several amplifiers out there, even new, that aren't really all that expensive. If you just want to talk mostly anywhere anytime, 400-600 watts will do the trick for all practical purposes. AL811, new list is 749 and will do better than 500 and the ALS500 if you want solid state (849 new list) from 12 volts will do 500 watts just fine (battery close enough and mutiple short #10 wires to it). Used they are very reasonable. I am glad I have a SUPER Radio they put their time into and will put my own amp behind it. K3 #1442, 73, de Jim KG0KP __ 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 Yahoo!香港提供網上安全攻略，教你如何防範黑客! 請前往 http://hk.promo.yahoo.com/security/ 了解更多! __ 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 100w vs 200w
Any amp will sell...period. Mobile use of an amp needs to strike a balance between watts and amps in each different setup. I think most agree the Elecraft amps (plenty of customers waiting) will be good. If Kenwood have a good sales volume on their 200w mobile, why not have a manufacturer release some competition? In my case, mobile with 200w creates NO power supply issues (TS-480HX) and I would much rather have a purpose built Elecraft PA that would produce 200W. So why not? Not all K3 users want, or are legally able to use, more than 400W, so, what is wrong with customers requesting a new product such as a 200w PA that can be matched up to their existing K3? Gary Sent via BlackBerry® from Telstra __ 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] 150 watt boots for 160m
In 1963's telephone school for newly employed wet-behind-the-ears ATT testboardmen, we were taught 3 db as the discernible change, and the reason why circuits that toned out more than a half db off had to be patched out of service and adjusted spot on. The only way to get from anywhere to anywhere with a long distance circuit was to switch shorter circuits together end to end, six times a half db was 3 db. You could plainly hear DC - Chicago - LA combos getting long and we'd make lists to pull out on midnight tours. Spent three years doing that. Until we got transistorized line bays later on that were more stable than the vaccum tube design, it was work a lot of overtime. Their maintenance schedule, the tens of thousands of of testboardmen they hired was based on the Bell Laboratories research on the matter. For that reason I may have an attachment to it, as ultimately it paid for my first house and car and put my kids through college, and is now paying retirement. If they'd said 2 dB maybe I never get hired. If one wants to dig up the research, it's found in the Bell System Technical Journal (BSTJ). This would be the stuff that everyone else refers to: 'C. F. Sacia and G. W. Beck, The Power of Fundamental Speech Sounds, Bell Syst. Tech. J., vol. 5, pp. 395-403 (1926)' 'Harvey Fletcher and W.A. Munson, Loudness, Its Definition, Measurement, and Calculation, Bell Syst Tech J., vol 12, issue 4 pp 377 ff.(October 1933)' Abstract: [Empirical formula for calculating loudness of any steady sound from analysis of intensity and frequency of its components developed; based on fundamental properties of hearing mechanism in such way that scale of loudness values results; in order to determine form of function representing this loudness scale, measurements were made of loudness levels] 73, Guy. On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 10:07 PM, Bill Johnson k9...@live.com wrote: In technical school after being a HAM for over 9 years I learned that it took 10Db change in level to perceive a doubling of audible signal level,,, 3 db hard to detect. I worked on modems during the Vietnam at a site for 1 year after tech school and all our old equipment was lab quality. I did this all day long for 6 days a week for a year. I know and heard what I write. Bill K9YEQ K2-#35 (2 more), KX1-#35, K3, TS2000, IC7000, etc. From: r...@cobi.biz To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:16:54 -0800 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] 150 watt boots for 160m Quite right Bill, in an audio laboratory or perhaps in a very quiet telephone circuit. But radio communications is different according to what I learned in school, lo' these many years past. Over half a century ago most radio communications engineers began using 3 dB (2:1 power ratio) as the minimum change in a signal level that would normally be just discernable to the listener, considering typical band noise and QSB. That was based in actual on-the-air observations by a great many operators over time. When considering changing my power level, I never consider it worthwhile to change less than 3 dB and more typically 6 to 10 dB as the minimum worth bothering with (e.g. shifting from a K2/10 at 10-15 watts CW to a K2/100 was a just worthwhile shift). When I was much younger and more innocent I used to scramble for each little watt, exulting in running 30 watts instead of 20 watts from a 6L6, for example, or tweaking my 6146 rig to run 90 instead of 75 watts and feeling sure that made a big difference. It sure seemed to produce more results from calls. But, looking back over logs over time, it was clearly an illusion.. That's when I acquired the sign that still hangs over my desk to remind me that Believing is Seeing. So I don't argue with people who want to make what is a quantifiable silly choice. Instead I say, If you want to do it and you believe it's worth it, do it. I'm no different. After all, we humans make most of our choices based on emotion and then we use rational logic to justify the choice. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From 100 to 150, for 1.7 dB, when Bell Laboratories research (with huge capital investment and telephone maintenance dollars on the line) determined that 3 dB was the signal strength change discernment for most people? I'm not sure who said 3 dB was the minimum detectable by a listener but I believe it's incorrect. 1 dB roughly matched the smallest attenuation detectable to an average listener. (see below) The decibel originates from methods used to quantify reductions in audio levels in telephone circuits. These losses were originally measured in units of Miles of Standard Cable (MSC), where 1 MSC corresponded to the loss of power over a 1 mile (approximately 1.6 km) length of standard telephone cable at a frequency of 5000 radians per second (795.8 Hz) and roughly matched the smallest attenuation detectable to an average listener. Standard telephone cable was
Re: [Elecraft] KPA100 problem
Jerry, That answer depends on which set of specifications you want to believe. I am saying that the Absolute Maximum Specification for the Maxim MAX1406 for Vss (pin 8) is -14 volts - you can check the data sheet for yourself. Yes, many KPA100s exceed that value - note that the KPA100 DC voltage chart lists the nominal voltage at U4 pin 8 at -22 volts. Whether that is a cause for failure of the chip is reason for speculation, there is not enough data to say yeah or nay. . What I have offered is a way to reduce the Vss voltage to the MAX1406 without also reducing the bias voltage to the KPA100 T/R switch. That involves removing D8, and D8 alone. The data sheet Electrical Characteristics current for pin 8 (Iss) is typical 185 uA with a maximum of 500 uA. for a Vss of -13.2 volts Minimum to -10.8 Maximum - that is not a lot of current draw on that pin. I am stating that a Vss (U4 pin 8) voltage less than -14 volts exceeds the Absolute Maximum Voltage rating per the MAX1406 datasheet - nothing more and nothing less. 73, Don W3FPR n0jrn wrote: Don: Just to clarify ! The -28V's I'm seeing at pin 8 of U4 is measured without the IC installed. Lets say for the sake of conversation that I install a good MAX1406 and it draws on the rectifier circuit a minimal amount. Would / could that bring the -28V's back into specs for this chip???. ( I have to figure Wayne designed the circuit taking this draw into consideration ) OR is my -28V's so abnormal that I need to be looking at other issues in my rectifier pack to bring this negative voltage back into spec ??? Could the negative voltage I'm getting be responsible for damaging this chip ??? I have 2 new chips coming from Mouser. I'm not installing them until I'm satisfied that I've checked and double checked EVERYTHING involved. Thanks again and happy holidays to the group: 72 Jerry N0JRN - Original Message - From: Don Wilhelm d...@w3fpr.com To: n0jrn n0...@mchsi.com Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 6:22 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA100 problem Jerry, I will take back what I said about U4 - it is faulty. That negative voltage is there only to allow the RS-232 drivers to produce a negative level, the current draw should be minimal. The only thing U4 does is convert RS-232 levels to TTL levels and vice-versa. Actually -28 volts is a bit much and does exceed the maximum speced voltage for the chip. -12 volts is more than sufficient and even -5 __ 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: 9.0.716 / Virus Database: 270.14.107/2564 - Release Date: 12/14/09 02:37:00 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 100w vs 200w
Hi Gary What we dont want to see from Elecraft is cheap 12 volt PA for the K3. We need some high performance high voltage fets with better IMD performance. If a 500 Watt FET amp is to be offered maybe they can be sold with one 250 watt module as standard, and the other 250 watt module as a option. A decent inbuilt power supply would be a great option I also run a TS480HX mobile, and those who say 3db is worth nothing should try switching between 200 watts and 100 watts on 40 meter DX when operating mobile. They will be very surprised how effective it is. I am very happy with the HX, so happy that I sold my SGC 500 watt amp. If I was ever going to run a mobile amp again it would be a 1KW amp. A mobile AMP from Elecraft would be another option. Especially one that mas a built in DC to DC converter. It would be nice to be able to run 800 watts from the mobile. Such a amp would use high voltage FETS with a DC to DC converter. I would suggest a product like this would be a big hit. Mobile operation with high performance screwdriver antennas has cult following at the moment. What we dont want to see is more Class C crap like so many of those RM Italy AMPS on the ham bands. Its very disturbing to see hams run this class C rubbish as their main station amp. I think there is a huge opportunity for some company to produce a decent 500 watt FCC approved amp thats affordable with decent IMD performance. After all who wants to be blackmailed by the ever increasing prices and availability of Russian tubes, Chinese rubbish tubes and planned obsolescence? I certainly dont want to play this game anymore. 5 votes for anything solid state. John --- On Mon, 12/14/09, rfenab...@gmail.com rfenab...@gmail.com wrote: From: rfenab...@gmail.com rfenab...@gmail.com Subject: [Elecraft] K3 100w vs 200w To: Elecraft Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Monday, December 14, 2009, 9:15 PM Any amp will sell...period. Mobile use of an amp needs to strike a balance between watts and amps in each different setup. I think most agree the Elecraft amps (plenty of customers waiting) will be good. If Kenwood have a good sales volume on their 200w mobile, why not have a manufacturer release some competition? In my case, mobile with 200w creates NO power supply issues (TS-480HX) and I would much rather have a purpose built Elecraft PA that would produce 200W. So why not? Not all K3 users want, or are legally able to use, more than 400W, so, what is wrong with customers requesting a new product such as a 200w PA that can be matched up to their existing K3? Gary Sent via BlackBerry® from Telstra __ 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
