Re: [Elecraft] An Antenna Problem I Can't Figure Out
A Hamstick is a pretty narrow-band antenna and really needs to be set-up with an SWR analyzer, otherwise you can have a hard time finding where it is resonant. You don't have to be far off resonance (especially below 20 meters) for the SWR to be very high. Also - check connectivity from the the coax center conductor at the radio end to the tip of the Hamstick. That'll tell you if you have an open in the Hamstick itself. Also, I don't believe the Hamstick can handle 500 watts - but maybe things have changed since I used them many years ago. But I bet the problem is that the Hamstick is resonant well-off where you think it is (but I've been wrong before). Phil - AD5X __ 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] XV144
Hello All I use a K2 and have XV50 and 144. The XV50 seems to be working just fine. However the 144 seems to have a problem. I live far enough away from other operators and had a poor enough antenna that I've not been able to find a test horse to talk to on two ssb or cw. finally made that happen last week. What I found was that the transverter seemed to be working. Receive performance is not as good as I think it should be (I changed out the loop antenna for an eleven element beam fix pointed at the metro area about 100 miles away). I need to run with the preamp on, rf and af gains all the way up to hear BIG stations at 100 miles in good conditions. And even more worrying is that, based on several stations reports my dial reads 12.4 khz high. From what I can see in the manual there is no alignment for frequency readout as such and the adjustment available from the TRN menu is only 10 khz. In checking the K2 against WWV it seems to be within well less than 100 hz. Suggestions? TNX de David - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1392 / Virus Database: 1520/3862 - Release Date: 08/27/11 __ 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] XV144
David - How high is your antenna? If your antenna is 20 feet or less above the ground, it is well below the radio horizon for stations 100 miles away. In fact, not allowing for various forward scatter propagation modes, an antenna 20 feet above average terrain will talk about 6 miles. 100 feet = 15 miles, and for 100 miles, 5000 feet above average terrain. Keep in mind that tropospheric scatter or other modes can extend these distances quite a bit, and the numbers assume the distant antenna is at zero elevation. Obviously, if the distant antenna is elevated the required height at the near end becomes less, or the range the two stations can communicate becomes greater. This is the obvious reason that repeater sites are often located on mountain tops.One of our local repeaters is located on a mountain at about 4400 feet elevation, and it covers out to about 75 miles, using a 10 watt transmitter. Absent the frequency readout problem, your transverter may be working just fine. - Jim, KL7CC David Heinsohn wrote: Hello All I use a K2 and have XV50 and 144. The XV50 seems to be working just fine. However the 144 seems to have a problem. I live far enough away from other operators and had a poor enough antenna that I've not been able to find a test horse to talk to on two ssb or cw. finally made that happen last week. What I found was that the transverter seemed to be working. Receive performance is not as good as I think it should be (I changed out the loop antenna for an eleven element beam fix pointed at the metro area about 100 miles away). I need to run with the preamp on, rf and af gains all the way up to hear BIG stations at 100 miles in good conditions. And even more worrying is that, based on several stations reports my dial reads 12.4 khz high. From what I can see in the manual there is no alignment for frequency readout as such and the adjustment available from the TRN menu is only 10 khz. In checking the K2 against WWV it seems to be within well less than 100 hz. Suggestions? TNX de David - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1392 / Virus Database: 1520/3862 - Release Date: 08/27/11 __ 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] SWR safe levels question
Getn's I have been searching for the safe swr level for the k3. The reason that I ask this is because the SWR reading on the k3 is differnt than my MFJ 259 and the meter levels on the front of my tuner. My tuning procedure is to have a switch in the antenna lines so that I first look at the mfj to dial in a very low SWR value. Then I switch the radio back in line and use the tune feature at 15w to check the settings. Sometimes they are spot on with the 259 other times they are not. When I transmitt I also get the SWR bouncing on the amp meter and the k3 if I try to tune to the lowest number on the k3 instead of the meter on the tuner. So what is the correct thing to look at and is this normal Setup is a barefoot k3 to a mfj 962d tuner. Current antenna is an Alpha Delta Trapped dipole. I am not haveing any problem, just trying to understand what is reallying happening in the system. I think that I over think this way too much but if I could find a real referenc for max swr for the k3 and understood what I am looking at it could make me a better operator. Thanks ~73 Don KD8NNU __ 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] XV144
You might want to contact Elecraft for a different variable inductor or crystal for the XV144. I had the same problem months back, and they discovered that they were shipping the wrong xtal for the 144. 73 Colin VE3MSC At 08:21 AM 2011-08-28, David Heinsohn wrote: Hello All I use a K2 and have XV50 and 144. The XV50 seems to be working just fine. However the 144 seems to have a problem. I live far enough away from other operators and had a poor enough antenna that I've not been able to find a test horse to talk to on two ssb or cw. finally made that happen last week. What I found was that the transverter seemed to be working. Receive performance is not as good as I think it should be (I changed out the loop antenna for an eleven element beam fix pointed at the metro area about 100 miles away). I need to run with the preamp on, rf and af gains all the way up to hear BIG stations at 100 miles in good conditions. And even more worrying is that, based on several stations reports my dial reads 12.4 khz high. From what I can see in the manual there is no alignment for frequency readout as such and the adjustment available from the TRN menu is only 10 khz. In checking the K2 against WWV it seems to be within well less than 100 hz. Suggestions? TNX de David - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1392 / Virus Database: 1520/3862 - Release Date: 08/27/11 __ 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] XV144
Hello, David... You raise two issues. Let me mention the dial reading issue first. Elecraft has a mod that allows the LO in the XV144 to be pulled a bit. In the K3 there is also an internal (to the K3) adjustment to correct for the offset, but it was not sufficient to bring my XV144 anywhere near the proper frequency. I am not sure about the situation for the K2. Someone (e.g. Don) will chime in with that info. The Elecraft mod is a slug-tuned inductor that installs in place of the strap over near the LO crystal. Consult with Elecraft about this problem; they are equipped to deal with it immediately and simply. My XV144 was very far off frequency when assembled without this mod, despite the fact that the LO crystal was marked to be of the proper frequency, and the mod fixed things properly. With respect to range, I see you are in Kansas. Around Elmdale, things are pretty flat, so you should have no problems working out to 100 miles with the 11 element beam -- your ERP will be of the order of several hundred watts in the main lobe, assuming you are running the XV144 wide open. Here in *(quite hilly*!) western New England I have no trouble working out 100 miles with the XV144 running barefoot, as long as conditions are normal. Usually to go any further than that, I have to turn on the heat...350 watts to an 11 element beam at 38 feet does wonders for a range increase. Of course, trying to use ssb in marginal conditions only makes matters worse*;* CW is a marvelous communications enhancer... My conclusion from your observations is that you are correct...there is a problem on the receive side of your set-up. Just where to look, I am not sure. I assume you have checked the alignment on the receive side of the transverter. Mine is plenty sensitive, working into a K3...it compares equally to an ICOM 910H with a GaAsFET preamp on the same antenna. Questions you might ask, are is it poor sensitivity you are dealing with? or is it that the signal level to the K2 IF that is low? I am sure that as the day wears on, someone else will chime in with a constructive suggestion... John Ragle -- W1ZI = On 8/28/2011 8:21 AM, David Heinsohn wrote: Hello All I use a K2 and have XV50 and 144. The XV50 seems to be working just fine. However the 144 seems to have a problem. I live far enough away from other operators and had a poor enough antenna that I've not been able to find a test horse to talk to on two ssb or cw. finally made that happen last week. What I found was that the transverter seemed to be working. Receive performance is not as good as I think it should be (I changed out the loop antenna for an eleven element beam fix pointed at the metro area about 100 miles away). I need to run with the preamp on, rf and af gains all the way up to hear BIG stations at 100 miles in good conditions. And even more worrying is that, based on several stations reports my dial reads 12.4 khz high. From what I can see in the manual there is no alignment for frequency readout as such and the adjustment available from the TRN menu is only 10 khz. In checking the K2 against WWV it seems to be within well less than 100 hz. Suggestions? TNX de David - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1392 / Virus Database: 1520/3862 - Release Date: 08/27/11 __ 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] CAL PLL on K2
Hi Folks, I think the answer to this is yes, but I want to verify...can I run CAL PLL on my K2 without having to reset all the filters (CAL FIL)? Thanks for info. --Ed-- __ 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] Turning KPA500 with K3?
How to turn on KPA500 by command from K3...and maybe even the operate power? - Chuck, KE9UW -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Turning-KPA500-with-K3-tp6734902p6734902.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] XV144
To all who have replied so far, thank you. It looks like I'll be making a call to Elecraft in the morning for the mod kit. That will certainly help. After I get the mod kit installed I will go thorough the entire alignment procedure again paying particular attention to the sensitivity portion. Using the range nomograms from several sources, like the ARRL VHF book, and the indicated performance of the stations in the Kansas City area, this setup should be able to work that path with no enhancement. It won't be strong but should be reliable. Thus KC seems to be a good location for the other end of my test path. I may find I just need to add another preamp. (The transmit power won't hurt either.) I was concerned that I had a problem with coax or connectors as well, so after I got the eleven element up, I got out the MFJ-269 and did a sweep. I had a good solid dip at the expected frequency so the coax is not acting like a dummy load. Thanks again for the help, David - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1392 / Virus Database: 1520/3863 - Release Date: 08/28/11 __ 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] SWR safe levels question
One problem with almost all SWR meters is that they are designed to show when the SWR is 1.0:1 As the SWR rises, most meters are notoriously inaccurate. Also, even short lengths of coax between the K3 and the external meter can alter the indicated SWR, even on the higher frequency bands. Theoretically that would not be the case, but even a small SWR on the line - too low to notice on the meter - can be enough to cause a significant difference at various points along the transmission line. I recommend leaning on the K3's SWR meter over the tuner. With today's fixed tuned rigs, a mismatch results in heating in the finals as the power transfer becomes less and less efficient due to the impedance mismatch between the finals and the antenna. More current is drawn by the finals for a given output power. How much heating you experience in the finals depends upon the power level and duty cycle of the transmission. The K3 has robust self protection. Assuming you have a K3/100, the unit monitors both the PA heat sink temperature and the SWR. You will get warnings if either is too high and, if the PA heat sink temperature exceeds 85C, the K3 will automatically switch the KPA100 amplifier module into standby to protect it. (You can monitor the PA temperature itself as described in the Owner's manual.) Also, since current required by the finals increases with the mismatch, you may get a high current warning if the SWR is too high. I wouldn't worry if as long as I am not seeing any of these symptoms. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Getn's I have been searching for the safe swr level for the k3. The reason that I ask this is because the SWR reading on the k3 is differnt than my MFJ 259 and the meter levels on the front of my tuner. My tuning procedure is to have a switch in the antenna lines so that I first look at the mfj to dial in a very low SWR value. Then I switch the radio back in line and use the tune feature at 15w to check the settings. Sometimes they are spot on with the 259 other times they are not. When I transmitt I also get the SWR bouncing on the amp meter and the k3 if I try to tune to the lowest number on the k3 instead of the meter on the tuner. So what is the correct thing to look at and is this normal Setup is a barefoot k3 to a mfj 962d tuner. Current antenna is an Alpha Delta Trapped dipole. I am not haveing any problem, just trying to understand what is reallying happening in the system. I think that I over think this way too much but if I could find a real referenc for max swr for the k3 and understood what I am looking at it could make me a better operator. Thanks ~73 Don KD8NNU __ 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] want to buy a K3 - what options do I need ?
Hello all, sri to ask you here but I'm brand new to the K3. I want to buy a K3 and don't know really what I all need. Main is a K3/10-F - that is clear. I want to use it with a external transverter for 144MHz like a Kuhne/DEMI/HA1YA I do not see clear what else I need for it. Mainly I wish to operate in 2m digital modes EME/MS and using it for contest on2m. So any help is welcome. -- best regards Erwin/DK5EW MMMonVHF - Beacon manager Meteorscatter contest manager http://www.MMMonVHF.de - The leading VHF - DX Portal News - Reviews - QSL Informations - Database - Propagation We do spread weekly VHF-DX-Newsletter www.mmmonvhf.de/nletter/newsletter.php - eMail ist virenfrei. Von AVG überprüft - www.avg.de Version: 10.0.1392 / Virendatenbank: 1520/3863 - Ausgabedatum: 28.08.2011 __ 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] XV144
David, On the frequency problem, order the no charge mod kit XV144MDKT from Elecraft and install it. That will install a variable inductor in the oscillator to allow you to pull the crystal into range (if not right on frequency). 100 miles is a long distance on 2 meters. You really need something to compare the receive with, the XV144 may be working OK. It is really hard to tell whether it is working adequately or not without doing some sort of measurement or comparison with a 2 meter receiver known to be working normally. You should not normally have to turn the preamp in the K2 on, nor should you need to turn the AF Gain up all the way. How high is that 11 element beam? 73, Don W3FPR On 8/28/2011 8:21 AM, David Heinsohn wrote: Hello All I use a K2 and have XV50 and 144. The XV50 seems to be working just fine. However the 144 seems to have a problem. I live far enough away from other operators and had a poor enough antenna that I've not been able to find a test horse to talk to on two ssb or cw. finally made that happen last week. What I found was that the transverter seemed to be working. Receive performance is not as good as I think it should be (I changed out the loop antenna for an eleven element beam fix pointed at the metro area about 100 miles away). I need to run with the preamp on, rf and af gains all the way up to hear BIG stations at 100 miles in good conditions. And even more worrying is that, based on several stations reports my dial reads 12.4 khz high. From what I can see in the manual there is no alignment for frequency readout as such and the adjustment available from the TRN menu is only 10 khz. In checking the K2 against WWV it seems to be within well less than 100 hz. __ 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] SWR safe levels question
I worked my way through college on the engineering crew of the local [only] TV station. Twice a year, we had to do a Proof of Performance and log it. It included assuring that the HP frequency/modulation monitors were correct. The CE assigned the modulation monitors to me and said, You can't use any method that relies of the calibration of any of our test equipment. Very long story short, I finally discovered that if I fed the aural transmitter a known audio frequency and slowly increased the amplitude while monitoring the amplitude of the FM carrier, it would go to zero at a known modulation index determined by the zero-order Bessel function of the first kind. I could get a known frequency audio signal from the sync generator which was phase locked to the network which was phase locked to the NBS standard. And the key ... I could use my SX-28/VHF converter with the narrow crystal filter to exclude the FM sidebands to measure the amplitude on the S-meter ... but ONLY because I was looking for zero on the meter. That's the the key. The meter is accurate and requires no calibration at zero. Elsewhere, it's anyone's guess. And that's the key to your issue, Don. SWR bridges are notoriously inaccurate at all readings, except zero [i.e. 1:1]. When the bridge is balanced [i.e. the load is 50+j0 ohms], it produces zero volts and all meters are inherently accurate at zero. At any other value, your guess is as good as any of theirs. Fred K6DGW Auburn CA On 8/28/2011 6:15 AM, gold...@charter.net wrote: Getn's I have been searching for the safe swr level for the k3. The reason that I ask this is because the SWR reading on the k3 is differnt than my MFJ 259 and the meter levels on the front of my tuner. __ 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] CAL PLL on K2
Ed, CAL PLL will not change your filter settings. But I must ask - why will you be running CAL PLL? Did something happen to change the contents of the EEPROM? A master reset will wipe out both the filter settings and the CAL PLL data. If you are attempting to do dial calibration on your K2, you will also have to store new filter data based on the new setting of the 4 MHz reference oscillator. See the K2 Dial Calibration article on my website www.w3fpr.com for the whole procedure. 73, Don W3FPR On 8/28/2011 11:44 AM, Ed G wrote: Hi Folks, I think the answer to this is yes, but I want to verify...can I run CAL PLL on my K2 without having to reset all the filters (CAL FIL)? Thanks for info. --Ed-- __ 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] SWR safe levels question
If you're looking for a documented level, here's the change note describing the SWR power rollback feature when it was introduced (MCU 1.87 / DSP 1.69 on 5-3-08): * POWER ROLLBACK BASED ON REFLECTED POWER: Power rollback begins at about 2.5:1 at 100 W (and of course much higher SWRs are tolerated at lower power settings). Recovers to original target power level after mismatch is corrected. When making antenna tuner adjustments I adopt the usual convention for solid state finals: keep the SWR below 2:1. In the case of the K3 that apparently puts me well below the foldback threshold at 100 W so I'm content. It's the SWR indication on the K3 that I care about since that's what's driving the K3's foldback feature. Bob NW8L I have been searching for the safe swr level for the k3. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] want to buy a K3 - what options do I need ?
You will need the KXV3A to use low power and split RX/TX lines between the K3 and the transverter. If the transverter can accept higher power levels and you use only a single TX and RX path to the external transverter, then the KXV3A is not needed for your application. 73, Don W3FPR On 8/28/2011 1:19 PM, DK5EW wrote: Hello all, sri to ask you here but I'm brand new to the K3. I want to buy a K3 and don't know really what I all need. Main is a K3/10-F - that is clear. I want to use it with a external transverter for 144MHz like a Kuhne/DEMI/HA1YA I do not see clear what else I need for it. Mainly I wish to operate in 2m digital modes EME/MS and using it for contest on2m. So any help is welcome. __ 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] KPA Utility for Mac - Need testers
I need a few Mac users with the KPA500 to help test the KPA Utility for OS X. Contact me off list if interested. tnx, David, W4SMT __ 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] Turning ON KPA500 with K3?
There is a line from the aux cable that will switch on and switch off...with a pulse low. But how to make the K3 send the pulse? Pin #8...but it, on the K3 aux connector is used to turn on the K3 with a pulse low. I think it, on the K3, comes from an output/input line from an open drain fet driven by a clock/calendar chip...so...and also I guess somehow from the POWER button on the K3 front panel to the MCU. AND...I guess if pin #8 were not cut off on the aux 25pin cable Elecraft sent, then turning on the K3 would turn on the KPA500...what if they got out of sync?...then turning on the K3 would turn off the KPA500...and turning off the K3 would turn on the KPA500...hmmm...or is that not a problem? - Chuck, KE9UW -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Turning-ON-KPA500-with-K3-tp6734902p6735630.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] using P3 and Skimmer
I have noted on the P3 panadapter page from Elecraft, that one of the features or uses is cited as http://www.elecraft.com/P3/p3.htm (bullet #11) Buffered IF output to drive other equipment (CW Skimmer etc.) Can anyone describe for me just how this is specifically accomplished for use with Skimmer? I don't see any references to how to hook it up with Skimmer anywhere in the P3 user's manual, while I see a lot of documentation for how to with LP-Pan. Thanks, de Doug KR2Q K3 SN: 295, 822 __ 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] Turning ON KPA500 with K3?
Chuck, For better or worse, I so far have used just a straight through cable, not the Elecraft, modified version. With this cable, the K3 does turn on the KPA500 when the K3 is turned on. However, while the K3 is on, you can't turn off the KPA with the KPA front panel switch, and when you turn off the K3, the KPA remains on. So I'm not sure that is a preferable mode of operation. 73, andy ae6y -- From: ke9uw c-haw...@illinois.edu Sent: Sunday, August 28, 2011 2:01 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Turning ON KPA500 with K3? There is a line from the aux cable that will switch on and switch off...with a pulse low. But how to make the K3 send the pulse? Pin #8...but it, on the K3 aux connector is used to turn on the K3 with a pulse low. I think it, on the K3, comes from an output/input line from an open drain fet driven by a clock/calendar chip...so...and also I guess somehow from the POWER button on the K3 front panel to the MCU. AND...I guess if pin #8 were not cut off on the aux 25pin cable Elecraft sent, then turning on the K3 would turn on the KPA500...what if they got out of sync?...then turning on the K3 would turn off the KPA500...and turning off the K3 would turn on the KPA500...hmmm...or is that not a problem? - Chuck, KE9UW -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Turning-ON-KPA500-with-K3-tp6734902p6735630.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] want to buy a K3 - what options do I need ?
Hi Erwin, Although I dont play with EME my suggestions would be as follows: K3/10 10 W Transceiver KXV3A KXV3A RX Ant., IF Out and Xverter Interface K144XV Internal 2 M 10w Module Kit for the K3 K144RFLK K144XV Reference Lock Board KTCX03-1 (0.5 ppm typ) High Stability Ref. Osc KDVR3 Digital Voice Recorder And for filters I would use the following: Leave the 2.7KHz 5 pole filter that comes with the radio (It is use for all transmitting) and additionally get a 400Hz 8 pole filter or something narrower, depending on what you prefer for CW. For SSB I would look at the 8 pole 1.8KHz filter, it seems to be just about perfect for SSB in my experience but if you are going to be using CW mostly then leave the 8 pole 1.8KHz filter off of your list. I hope this helps, Jeff Cochrane - VK4BOF East Innisfail QLD, Australia - Original Message - From: DK5EW dk...@mmmonvhf.de To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, August 29, 2011 3:19 AM Subject: [Elecraft] want to buy a K3 - what options do I need ? Hello all, sri to ask you here but I'm brand new to the K3. I want to buy a K3 and don't know really what I all need. Main is a K3/10-F - that is clear. I want to use it with a external transverter for 144MHz like a Kuhne/DEMI/HA1YA I do not see clear what else I need for it. Mainly I wish to operate in 2m digital modes EME/MS and using it for contest on2m. So any help is welcome. -- best regards Erwin/DK5EW MMMonVHF - Beacon manager Meteorscatter contest manager http://www.MMMonVHF.de - The leading VHF - DX Portal News - Reviews - QSL Informations - Database - Propagation We do spread weekly VHF-DX-Newsletter www.mmmonvhf.de/nletter/newsletter.php - eMail ist virenfrei. Von AVG überprüft - www.avg.de Version: 10.0.1392 / Virendatenbank: 1520/3863 - Ausgabedatum: 28.08.2011 __ 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] SWR safe levels question
Thanks Bob, This was the kind of information that I was looking for. I am not haveing problems per say, I just wanted to know how good is good or how closes is close. When I get it close on the MFJ and then go to check with power, I desire to have the meter on the tuner match the K3. My goal is to get the reflected power needle to be at zero if possible and also have the k3 at 1.1 Now with this information if the k3 is a little different I suspect it is due to the antenna switch and the extra coax. Thx Don ~73 Don KD8NNU On Sun, Aug 28, 2011 at 1:37 PM, Bob Cunnings wrote: If you're looking for a documented level, here's the change note describing the SWR power rollback feature when it was introduced (MCU 1.87 / DSP 1.69 on 5-3-08): * POWER ROLLBACK BASED ON REFLECTED POWER: Power rollback begins at about 2.5:1 at 100 W (and of course much higher SWRs are tolerated at lower power settings). Recovers to original target power level after mismatch is corrected. When making antenna tuner adjustments I adopt the usual convention for solid state finals: keep the SWR below 2:1. In the case of the K3 that apparently puts me well below the foldback threshold at 100 W so I'm content. It's the SWR indication on the K3 that I care about since that's what's driving the K3's foldback feature. Bob NW8L I have been searching for the safe swr level for the k3. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ 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] XG3 Utility for Mac - Need testers
I need a few Mac users with the XG3 to help test the XG3 Utility for OS X. Contact me off list if interested. tnx, David, W4SMT __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Elecraft SSB Net results (8/28/11)
We had a good net today, but signal levels were down a bit from last week. We did, however, have Brendan (EI6IZ) check in. There was minimal discussion after the check-ins today. We had 27 participants over a 22 minute period. Have a great week. Here is the list of participants. Station NameQTH Rig S/N WB6CLZ MikeCA K3 4522 N6JWJohnCA K3 936 W9DVM PhilFL K3 1605 AE6IC FredCA K3 2241 EI6IZ Brendan EI K3 39 AI4VZ George GA K3 2412 K8EAG Gil MI K3 99 W4RKS Jim AL K3 3618 W0FMTerry MO K3 474 KO5YKen NM K3 4442 W3FPR Don NC K3 20 KE4WY Jim KY K3 4864 W7QHD KurtAZ K2 1538 KN5LJohnTX K3 4448 HR9/WQ7RRay HR K3 2808 KE5GBC MikeTX K3 5047(10W) KE5EFY Dwayne TX K3 5287 K6VME StanMI K3 650 W4TMW Tom GA K2 5135 KE4INM Jim FL K3 3307 KE5RBS Kelvin AR K2 7162 N4LAToddNC K3 5331 NA6ZDon CA K3 5495 KL7UW Ed AK K3 4043QRP K6LMP Lew CA K3 3805QRP KK7PLyleWA K3 2 NS7PPhilOR K3 1826 73, Phil, NS7P __ 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] using P3 and Skimmer
Doug, The setup with CW Skimmer is about the same as for LP-Pan. CW Skimmer is only the software, and it needs a baseband signal having I/Q outputs to operate. Such a signal can be obtained from LP-Pan, or a Softrock receiver, or a variety of other SDR devices that provide I/Q signals to the soundcard inputs. I also note that there is a slight inconsistency between those bulleted features and the P3 manual. The manual states that its INPUT should come from a buffered IF output on the transceiver, however the P3 OUT signal comes from a 3 dB splitter - it apparently is not separately buffered in the P3. 73, Don W3FPR On 8/28/2011 5:51 PM, DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote: Buffered IF output to drive other equipment (CW Skimmer etc.) __ 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] KPA Utility for Mac - Need testers
David, Send me a demo KPA500 and I'll be more than happy to help out! :-) Rick K6LE On 8/28/2011, at 1:14 , David Fleming wrote: I need a few Mac users with the KPA500 to help test the KPA Utility for OS X. Contact me off list if interested. tnx, David, W4SMT __ __ 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] using P3 and Skimmer
Hi, Doug. It cannot be done without the addition of some other SDR hardware, such as an LP-Pan or SDR-IQ or Softrock. I publicly, privately, and unsuccessfully lobbied for well over six months prior to the introduction of the P3 for Elecraft to include buffered I/Q outputs in it so that it could be used with third party SDR software like CW Skimmer. The fact that it doesn't is why I don't own one and instead bought an LP-Pan. There are so many interesting things that can be accomplished with SDR applications that I don't want to be without that capability, and in my opinion buying two sets of hardware to do essentially the same thing is an unnecessary redundancy. The upcoming KX3 will have buffered I/Q outputs, though, so clearly it could have been accomplished without undue cost adders. In my opinion, it would have made far more sense to include it in the P3. 73, Dave AB7E On 8/28/2011 2:51 PM, DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote: I have noted on the P3 panadapter page from Elecraft, that one of the features or uses is cited as http://www.elecraft.com/P3/p3.htm (bullet #11) Buffered IF output to drive other equipment (CW Skimmer etc.) Can anyone describe for me just how this is specifically accomplished for use with Skimmer? I don't see any references to how to hook it up with Skimmer anywhere in the P3 user's manual, while I see a lot of documentation for how to with LP-Pan. Thanks, de Doug KR2Q K3 SN: 295, 822 __ 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] using P3 and Skimmer
Don: I recently had a question from a prospective customer for a Z1B buffer amplifier about the need for additional isolation if a Softrock is used with the P3's splitter IF output. I can't find a spec for the P3's isolation between the IF output port and the IF Input, but 30 dB isn't a bad estimate for a 3 dB hybrid splitter. Typical local oscillator leakage out of a Softrock is -40 dBm, so a -70 dBm signal (approximately) will be injected into the P3's input if a Softrock is connected to the P3's IF out port. This will appear as a spurious pip on the P3's display at around -70 dBm. The LPPan has isolation and it's leakage is not a problem when used in this fashion. But, I believe a Softrock will require additional isolation, on the order of 60 dB or so, in order to be useful without injecting a spurious pip into the P3. Jack K8ZOA On 8/28/2011 7:41 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: Doug, The setup with CW Skimmer is about the same as for LP-Pan. CW Skimmer is only the software, and it needs a baseband signal having I/Q outputs to operate. Such a signal can be obtained from LP-Pan, or a Softrock receiver, or a variety of other SDR devices that provide I/Q signals to the soundcard inputs. I also note that there is a slight inconsistency between those bulleted features and the P3 manual. The manual states that its INPUT should come from a buffered IF output on the transceiver, however the P3 OUT signal comes from a 3 dB splitter - it apparently is not separately buffered in the P3. 73, Don W3FPR On 8/28/2011 5:51 PM, DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote: Buffered IF output to drive other equipment (CW Skimmer etc.) __ 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] using P3 and Skimmer
Jack, Thanks for that information. I was not thinking about the P3 display. Harmful injection into the K3 would be no problem because it has a buffered output IF output, but you are correct, the Softrock LO will produce a spur on the P3 display even if it does not get into the K3 IF. 73, Don W3FPR On 8/28/2011 8:42 PM, Jack Smith wrote: Don: I recently had a question from a prospective customer for a Z1B buffer amplifier about the need for additional isolation if a Softrock is used with the P3's splitter IF output. I can't find a spec for the P3's isolation between the IF output port and the IF Input, but 30 dB isn't a bad estimate for a 3 dB hybrid splitter. Typical local oscillator leakage out of a Softrock is -40 dBm, so a -70 dBm signal (approximately) will be injected into the P3's input if a Softrock is connected to the P3's IF out port. This will appear as a spurious pip on the P3's display at around -70 dBm. The LPPan has isolation and it's leakage is not a problem when used in this fashion. But, I believe a Softrock will require additional isolation, on the order of 60 dB or so, in order to be useful without injecting a spurious pip into the P3. Jack K8ZOA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] using P3 and Skimmer
The upcoming KX3 will have buffered I/Q outputs, though, so clearly it could have been accomplished without undue cost adders. In my opinion, it would have made far more sense to include it in the P3. The circuit of the P3 and the KX3 are massively different. If you had bothered to read the P3 manual and study the block diagram/circuit description you would not have made such a ridiculous statement. The P3 does not create audio internally *at all* - to generate I/Q would require essentially duplicating the P3's entire IF along with a separate controller to maintain independent tracking frequency control, an independent wideband I/Q audio output and digital to analog converters. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 8/28/2011 8:08 PM, David Gilbert wrote: Hi, Doug. It cannot be done without the addition of some other SDR hardware, such as an LP-Pan or SDR-IQ or Softrock. I publicly, privately, and unsuccessfully lobbied for well over six months prior to the introduction of the P3 for Elecraft to include buffered I/Q outputs in it so that it could be used with third party SDR software like CW Skimmer. The fact that it doesn't is why I don't own one and instead bought an LP-Pan. There are so many interesting things that can be accomplished with SDR applications that I don't want to be without that capability, and in my opinion buying two sets of hardware to do essentially the same thing is an unnecessary redundancy. The upcoming KX3 will have buffered I/Q outputs, though, so clearly it could have been accomplished without undue cost adders. In my opinion, it would have made far more sense to include it in the P3. 73, Dave AB7E On 8/28/2011 2:51 PM, DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote: I have noted on the P3 panadapter page from Elecraft, that one of the features or uses is cited as http://www.elecraft.com/P3/p3.htm (bullet #11) Buffered IF output to drive other equipment (CW Skimmer etc.) Can anyone describe for me just how this is specifically accomplished for use with Skimmer? I don't see any references to how to hook it up with Skimmer anywhere in the P3 user's manual, while I see a lot of documentation for how to with LP-Pan. Thanks, de Doug KR2Q K3 SN: 295, 822 __ 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] Turning ON KPA500 with K3?
Yes that makes sense. The pin #8 is power on for the K3, but power off on the K3 does not send a pulse to the pin now that I understand more about it. Incidentally, to remotely turn off the K3, you have to send a PS0 to the RS232 port. Maybe that's why they cut the pin off...since the function wouldn't be that useful and couldn't be disabled with CONFIG (I guess). But I think I would like the option...an inline switch on my part would suffice for disabling the feature. Something to think about. Thanks for the info. - Chuck, KE9UW -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Turning-ON-KPA500-with-K3-tp6734902p6736203.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] Turning ON KPA500 with K3?
Probably a simple circuit using the 12 volts on output would be the best approach to provide a neg pulse to the pin #8 to the KPA500 for both power on and power off. Also the pin #7 outputs a logic 5 volts when the K3 is turned on...another possibility. - Chuck, KE9UW -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Turning-ON-KPA500-with-K3-tp6734902p6736226.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] using P3 and Skimmer
Dave AB7E: I publicly, privately, and unsuccessfully lobbied for well over six months prior to the introduction of the P3 for Elecraft to include buffered I/Q outputs in it so that it could be used with third party SDR software like CW Skimmer. This was brought few times already and pretty much was black holed by Elecraft. The reason is that too much need to be done in hardware and software for pretty little value added, plus, I am sure it also would increase P3 price dramatically. But there is a workaround! I discovered Reversed Beacon Network and bunch of nice people who actually put very nice SDRs with Skimmer online and report on DX cluster every station that did CQ or TEST in their CW transmission. I use N1MM as my rig control software and it has band maps where all the cluster stations appear as they are reported. It is almost like having your own skimmer without all the hassle! 73, Igor, N1YX __ 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] Turning ON KPA500 with K3?
Chuck, There was a good engineering reason for cutting pin #8 in the cable between the K3 and the KPA500. Use that connection at your own peril. You may report strange happenings, but please do not complain about them. 73, Don W3FPR On 8/28/2011 5:01 PM, ke9uw wrote: There is a line from the aux cable that will switch on and switch off...with a pulse low. But how to make the K3 send the pulse? Pin #8...but it, on the K3 aux connector is used to turn on the K3 with a pulse low. I think it, on the K3, comes from an output/input line from an open drain fet driven by a clock/calendar chip...so...and also I guess somehow from the POWER button on the K3 front panel to the MCU. AND...I guess if pin #8 were not cut off on the aux 25pin cable Elecraft sent, then turning on the K3 would turn on the KPA500...what if they got out of sync?...then turning on the K3 would turn off the KPA500...and turning off the K3 would turn on the KPA500...hmmm...or is that not a problem? __ 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] Turning ON KPA500 with K3?
Ha. Ok on that...I wouldn't think of complaining about something like that. I guess you don't have to elaborate, but you have peaked my interest. Chuck, There was a good engineering reason for cutting pin #8 in the cable between the K3 and the KPA500. Use that connection at your own peril. You may report strange happenings, but please do not complain about them. 73, Don W3FPR - Chuck, KE9UW -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Turning-ON-KPA500-with-K3-tp6734902p6736241.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] Elecraft CW Net Report for August 28th 29th, 2011
Good Evening, Both nets were not too bad. QRN was bad on 20 meters but less bad on 40 meters. I was very surprised to hear Dave check in. He told us there was not much damage and he was OK. He was weaker than normal but considering a hurricane had just passed it is good he was on the air at all. The second net started OK when I got Brian. Then I got a CQer from Arkansas who could not hear my calling on frequency, KR4RA. Since no one was answering his CQ (that he could hear that is) I waited. But when he did not quit I moved the net to 7045.5 kHz. I explained what I was doing and where I was going so when I called my first CQ there were immediate responses. The QRN was less but Dave made it through from CT again. He gave me a 339 so it was short but it was good to know he was OK from the center of the path. On to the lists = On 14050.5 kHz at 2200z: AC5P - Mike - OK - K3 - 2170 K1THP - Dave - CT - K3 - 686 W0RSR - Mike - CO - K2 - 5767 N0AR - Scott - MN - K2 - 4866 K4JPN - Steve - GA - K2 - 1422 N0TA - John - CO - K3 - 994 On 7045 7045.5 kHz at 0100z: K0DTJ - Brian - CA - K3 - 4113 KR4RA - Mark - AR N0TA - John - CO - K3 - 994 AC5P - Mike - OK - K3 - 2170 K1THP - Dave - CT - K3 - 686 AE6IC - Fred - CA - K3 - 2241 I hope the conditions on 40 meters keep improving. It is nice to work more than the West Coast again. I actually worked both costs on 40 meters :) Maybe interest will return to the second net. There was a little talk of weather but mostly the temperatures are milder. Since I got no Texas stations on either band I'll not imagine their sweltering temperatures. But the sun is slowly moving back southward again so autumn will come. Then they'll get their respite of winter. Until next week stay well, 73, Kevin. KD5ONS (Net Control Operator 5th Class) - __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] KX3 battery life question...
I like to hike in areas where 2m is mostly useless. The weight I can carry is extremely limited, and the KX1 is about right. Hiking is slow and it takes time to get anywhere. Cooking and other tasks take time. I seldom have more than one hour to operate after everything else is done, including station setup. At my age I am not comfortable setting up the radio on the ground, or sitting on the ground. I will find a rock or fallen tree to sit on. If I am lucky, there is another such surface nearby that can serve as operating table. If not, I will hold the radio in one hand. An external tuner or external paddles would be unacceptable - not enough hands. If an operating table is available, only one box can be balanced on top of it. Connect two items together with a cord on top of the table, and one item will be on a slope and start sliding down. Also, the pull of the earphone cord or antenna feedline will cause one of the items to slide down. Once one item slides, the rest will follow. External batteries would be possible only if placed on the ground with a long-enough cord, but they are too heavy compared to the Lithium batteries I use inside the KX1. Normally the radio is for typical qso's, but the ability to call for help *is* important. With the foregoing as background, how do I look at the KX3? The extra power is a plus, but even at 10 W I would not need any external battery based on the operating time estimates I have seen here. The extra size/weight is not a plus, and might cause me to take the KX1 over the KX3 on a given trip. However, as a K3 user, I really want the nice user interface and selectivity performance I expect to see in the KX3 whenever I can carry the bigger radio. I hope the internal tuner option will be available before the 2m option. 73, Erik K7TV __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
