Re: [Elecraft] Good microphone for K2 and K3
I use a Heil PR-781 boom mic for both my K3's and have used it on my K2 also. 73, Fred/N0AZZ K3 Ser #'s 6730/5299--KX3 # 2573--K2/100--KAT100 P3/SVGA--KPA500--KAT500--W2 -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Andreas Hofmann Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 10:59 PM To: 'elecraft@mailman.qth.net' Subject: [Elecraft] Good microphone for K2 and K3 Hi, I got a K2 now and may own a K3 in the near future. My K2 works really well with the Heil Pro Set Dynamic mike (K2 jumpered for it, internal resistor etc.). I am looking for a mike that can be used for both the K2 and K3 together, hooked up to a SO2R box. How do people feel about the Heil HM-12 (http://www.heilsound.com/amateur/products/hm12/)? It is dynamic, so I would assume it is similar to the Heil Pro Set Dynamic. Does anyone have any feedback? Thanks, Andreas __ 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 message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3162/6289 - Release Date: 05/01/13 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3162/6289 - Release Date: 05/01/13 __ 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] KX3 Backlight color will remain amber
I removed the green backlight LED from the K1 backlight kit, and replaced it with a red one :). I like it! -kb7psg On Wed, 1 May 2013, Wayne Burdick wrote: I found that kind of change to the backlight color would be very time-consuming and expensive, requiring new tooling at the LCD manufacturer. This is not practical for the KX3. Sorry about that. Meanwhile, another approach would be to turn the backlight off and aim a colored lamp at the KX3. (I'm only half-joking. I've had to do just that on some Field Days, because we shared our favorite site with an astronomy group. They want things either totally dark or illuminated only with red lamps, which they happily supplied.) 73, Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K2] Forgetful K2 filters
Hi All, To wrap up and put in the mail list archive, my K2 issues have now been solved. Don, W3FPR suggested looking at U6, U7 and U8. I changed U7 whilst the radio was apart and resoldered U6 and U8 to resolve the issue. AE6QL also pointed out that there may be an issue with the socket for U6, but I wasn't brave enough to try and remove it as Fred suggested in case I trashed the board. So far I don't need to make that change. Phew! Thanks again to the list for helping me with this issue. 73 Steve M0BPQ On 17 April 2013 12:59, STEPHEN BUNTING stephen.bunt...@virgin.net wrote: Hi, I have a K2/100 on my bench that is behaving strangely and I’d like some advice. This has the SSB board and Z1 buffer amp and 2.04P firmware. That radio hasn’t been used for some time and I am told it was stored in an attic space so will have been subject to temperature swings. Initial symptoms were that the radio was deaf and filters misaligned. Further investigation with spectrogram showed that all the CW filters were centred at 900Hz and about 300Hz wide so I started a retune as per N0SS. All re-tuned just fine and sensitivity returned. The SSB filters except OP1 were also misaligned but I haven’t touched them yet. As a CW op I was happy to try the radio on the air. But. When I turn the radio off and on again I find that my filter settings are sometimes lost and the filters return to 900Hz centre and 300Hz wide. Entering the cal fil routine can restore them without me readjusting the DAC value. Furthermore, when I am in user mode (i.e. not cal fil) and tap xfil to scroll through the filters sequentially, every so often one filter ends up back to the 900Hz center and 300Hz wide. This can be any of the four defined filters. If I continue to scroll through the filter set I can return to the erroneous filter to find that it is back where I wanted it to be i.e. centered at 600Hz . This happens at random as far as I can tell i.e any (or no) filter can misbehave in a cycle. As an aside, when altering the BFO values to tune the filters I randomly l got an “INFO 230” message even though the freq counter probe was in place. This doesn't seem to be a loose connection as a repeat tune without touching anything works just fine. I also have a random sidetone issue which may be related. The sidetone disappears every so often and can be brought back to life by changing the pitch slightly. If I increment ST P up by 1 unit the sidetone reappears instantly. I can then return to my usual level of 600Hz and it works again for a while. The remarkable G3TJP has helped me enormously with all things Elecraft in the past, but I feel bad about bothering him with another issue. Any thoughts from the team here what to look at next? Replace the firmware chip? 73 Steve, M0BPQ __ 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] Good microphone for K2 and K3
Andreas, Are you certain that is a dynamic microphone? If so, you should not have the internal resistor in the K2. If it stops working with the resistor removed, it has an electret element (remove the left side panel and lift one end of the resistor). That same microphone should work just fine with the K3. 73, Don W3FPR On 5/1/2013 11:58 PM, Andreas Hofmann wrote: Hi, I got a K2 now and may own a K3 in the near future. My K2 works really well with the Heil Pro Set Dynamic mike (K2 jumpered for it, internal resistor etc.). I am looking for a mike that can be used for both the K2 and K3 together, hooked up to a SO2R box. How do people feel about the Heil HM-12 (http://www.heilsound.com/amateur/products/hm12/)? It is dynamic, so I would assume it is similar to the Heil Pro Set Dynamic. Does anyone have any feedback? __ 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 internal microphone
Had any thought been given to including an internal electret microphone in the KX3? Those mics are so small and an aperture for it could be very tiny that I am surprised the KX3 does not have one. The internal mic could be selected by a menu option. With the attachable KXPD3 paddle the KX3 would then be a self-contained rig for all modes without the need for an external microphone. An internal microphone would work very well using VOX. 73 de David G4DMP -- + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + | David M Pratt, Kippax, Leeds. | | Website: http://www.g4dmp.co.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
[Elecraft] K3 - Gremlin attack in the AGC settings
Over the last few days I have noticed a degradation in the RX audio when using the autonotch. Odd, as I spent a lot of time discovering how to correct this by changing the various AGC settings in the Config Menu. This morning I decided rather than looking at the external audio chain any further, I would recheck the AGC settings. Sure enough, they were not as I had left them. So, I changed them back to what my notes said - and, now all is just fine. I make my settings the one at a time method from the Config Menu. I do not use K3EZ, as I have found errors in its operation. While I was at it, I checked the remainder of my personal settings. All else seems to be fine. Any thoughts how Gremlins got into the AGC settings? If nothing else, I now know to check my settings when the receive audio go sour. Thanks, Bill W2BLC __ 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] KAT500 power source
http://www.elecraft.com/KAT500/kat500.html Specifications Frequency Typical Matching Range and Power Limit 3 - 30 MHz600W into 5 to 500 Ohms (10:1 SWR) 1000W into 16 to 150 Ohms (3:1 SWR ) 1.8 - 2MHz600W into 10 to 500 Ohms (5:1 Low Impedance, 10:1 High Impedance SWR) 1000W into 16 to 150 Ohms (3:1 SWR ) 30 - 60MHz 500W into 5:1 SWR (10 to 250 Ohms) Matching specified to a 1.0:1 to 1.6:1 resultant SWR. Power rating is ICAS (Intermittent Commercial and Amateur Service). 73 de Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 7:49 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 power source On 5/1/2013 7:38 PM, Gerald Manthey wrote: Can the KPA500 handle more than 1000 watts? Say like 1100 to 1500? You must mean KAT500, and I don't think so. At least I wouldn't try it. I think it will handle anything the KPA500 will make [~700W], after all, this *is* Elecraft, and that's what they do, but 1,500W is over twice that much and seems to be pushing it more than a little. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2013 Cal QSO Party 5-6 Oct 2013 - www.cqp.org __ 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] KAT500 power source
Dick, On the Elecraft web site in the news section it reads in part The KAT500 uses the same topology and high performance tuning algorithms as the popular 100W autotuner in the K3. Typical matching range at 500-600W is up to 10:1 on most bands. (slightly less on 160m and 6M). This also equates to a range of 3:1 for higher power levels, up to 1200-1500 W. So is it up to 1200 - 1500 watts? On May 2, 2013 8:20 AM, Dick Dievendorff die...@comcast.net wrote: http://www.elecraft.com/KAT500/kat500.html Specifications Frequency Typical Matching Range and Power Limit 3 - 30 MHz600W into 5 to 500 Ohms (10:1 SWR) 1000W into 16 to 150 Ohms (3:1 SWR ) 1.8 - 2MHz600W into 10 to 500 Ohms (5:1 Low Impedance, 10:1 High Impedance SWR) 1000W into 16 to 150 Ohms (3:1 SWR ) 30 - 60MHz 500W into 5:1 SWR (10 to 250 Ohms) Matching specified to a 1.0:1 to 1.6:1 resultant SWR. Power rating is ICAS (Intermittent Commercial and Amateur Service). 73 de Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 7:49 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 power source On 5/1/2013 7:38 PM, Gerald Manthey wrote: Can the KPA500 handle more than 1000 watts? Say like 1100 to 1500? You must mean KAT500, and I don't think so. At least I wouldn't try it. I think it will handle anything the KPA500 will make [~700W], after all, this *is* Elecraft, and that's what they do, but 1,500W is over twice that much and seems to be pushing it more than a little. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2013 Cal QSO Party 5-6 Oct 2013 - www.cqp.org __ 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] KAT500 power source
Gerald, I run 1500 through mine. I tune first into a load that has low SWR first before I use the Tuner as it won't handle high swr at the legal limit based on the specs. Obviously it is safer to do so at 500 watts and it is pushing the design and component limits should one chose to do so at 1500 watts. I currently have a remote tuner near the antenna load and am using the KAT500 in the shack. (Yes, I know, double tuner loss) This gives my amp a near perfect load. The remote tuner doesn't get it at near 1:1, but I see 1.3:1 to the Kat500 which provides the near 1:1. You can do the math to see the amount of reflected power, I don't have to, I have a meter in the amp to tell me that my reflected power is near 0 merely a meter twitch. I would rather waste a tuner than a $6K amp. 73, Bill K9YEQ K2 FT, KX1 FT, KX3 FT, KAT500 FT -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Gerald Manthey Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2013 9:21 AM To: Dick Dievendorff Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 power source Dick, On the Elecraft web site in the news section it reads in part The KAT500 uses the same topology and high performance tuning algorithms as the popular 100W autotuner in the K3. Typical matching range at 500-600W is up to 10:1 on most bands. (slightly less on 160m and 6M). This also equates to a range of 3:1 for higher power levels, up to 1200-1500 W. So is it up to 1200 - 1500 watts? On May 2, 2013 8:20 AM, Dick Dievendorff die...@comcast.net wrote: http://www.elecraft.com/KAT500/kat500.html Specifications Frequency Typical Matching Range and Power Limit 3 - 30 MHz600W into 5 to 500 Ohms (10:1 SWR) 1000W into 16 to 150 Ohms (3:1 SWR ) 1.8 - 2MHz600W into 10 to 500 Ohms (5:1 Low Impedance, 10:1 High Impedance SWR) 1000W into 16 to 150 Ohms (3:1 SWR ) 30 - 60MHz 500W into 5:1 SWR (10 to 250 Ohms) Matching specified to a 1.0:1 to 1.6:1 resultant SWR. Power rating is ICAS (Intermittent Commercial and Amateur Service). 73 de Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 7:49 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 power source On 5/1/2013 7:38 PM, Gerald Manthey wrote: Can the KPA500 handle more than 1000 watts? Say like 1100 to 1500? You must mean KAT500, and I don't think so. At least I wouldn't try it. I think it will handle anything the KPA500 will make [~700W], after all, this *is* Elecraft, and that's what they do, but 1,500W is over twice that much and seems to be pushing it more than a little. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2013 Cal QSO Party 5-6 Oct 2013 - www.cqp.org __ 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 __ 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] KAT500 power source
But the specs trump the news. The news was a forecast. So 1500W may be in the it works for me category instead of supported. wunder K6WRU On May 2, 2013, at 7:20 AM, Gerald Manthey wrote: Dick, On the Elecraft web site in the news section it reads in part The KAT500 uses the same topology and high performance tuning algorithms as the popular 100W autotuner in the K3. Typical matching range at 500-600W is up to 10:1 on most bands. (slightly less on 160m and 6M). This also equates to a range of 3:1 for higher power levels, up to 1200-1500 W. So is it up to 1200 - 1500 watts? On May 2, 2013 8:20 AM, Dick Dievendorff die...@comcast.net wrote: http://www.elecraft.com/KAT500/kat500.html Specifications Frequency Typical Matching Range and Power Limit 3 - 30 MHz600W into 5 to 500 Ohms (10:1 SWR) 1000W into 16 to 150 Ohms (3:1 SWR ) 1.8 - 2MHz600W into 10 to 500 Ohms (5:1 Low Impedance, 10:1 High Impedance SWR) 1000W into 16 to 150 Ohms (3:1 SWR ) 30 - 60MHz 500W into 5:1 SWR (10 to 250 Ohms) Matching specified to a 1.0:1 to 1.6:1 resultant SWR. Power rating is ICAS (Intermittent Commercial and Amateur Service). 73 de Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 7:49 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 power source On 5/1/2013 7:38 PM, Gerald Manthey wrote: Can the KPA500 handle more than 1000 watts? Say like 1100 to 1500? You must mean KAT500, and I don't think so. At least I wouldn't try it. I think it will handle anything the KPA500 will make [~700W], after all, this *is* Elecraft, and that's what they do, but 1,500W is over twice that much and seems to be pushing it more than a little. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2013 Cal QSO Party 5-6 Oct 2013 - www.cqp.org __ 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 -- Walter Underwood wun...@wunderwood.org __ 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] P3 Noise signature - External antenna adapter
Nice description, Merv. Would be nice to have the diodes internal with a BNC just for this purpose. Perhaps this could be an add-on kit in the future, if Eric and Wayne will leave any additional space inside. 73, Bill K9YEQ -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Merv Schweigert Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 8:38 PM Yes I should have mentioned that Eric. I made an adapter from a small box that has a male BNC on one end, diodes inside, and a female BNC on the other end,I use a whip with a bnc for general hunting, or a coax cable to a hand held loop antenna for some directional work, depending on freq in use. Works quite well as you can see the noise pattern that is bugging you and see the signal increase or decrease much better than on a metered instrument. For a battery I steal one of my model aircraft LiPo types, have several packs that are 5000 ma 12 volt, they last plenty long to noise hunt. Just have to overcome the idea of taking the P3 out of the shack into the field. :o) 73 Merv K9FD/KH6 IMPORTANT - If you do this, make sure to protect the P3 IF input with back to back diodes. Static electricity on the whip antenna can harm the input pre-amp. (Ask me how I know..) I made an adapter here with a male-female BNC terminator with the back to back diodes internally instead of the 50 ohm resistor. I power the P3 with a 10 cell AA alkaline battery pack to search for RFI. 73, Eric elecraft.com On 5/1/2013 10:10 AM, Merv Schweigert wrote: Use your P3, put an antenna on the IF port and it will receive signals on the freq that you see the interference, power it off a small battery and walk around or use a directional antenna to pinpoint the location of the interference, P3 will tune the band needed. One of the uses for the P3 that is overlooked, Merv K9FD/KH6 . __ 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] KPA500 audio pop pressing oper/stby or power on/off
Anyone else have this: When I power up or down, or go from STBY to OPER (or back) I get an audio pop of white noise in the K3. I doubt this is normal. How did you solve this? I am using the KPAK3AUX cable. Other than that pop fantastic amp, especially the way it integrates with the k3. 73 de -- John Fritze Jr K2QY AARA president 2013 ACACES secretary 2013 Albany County RACES Radio Officer ARES ENY DEC Northern District ARES Albany County EC Hudson Div. Asst. Director Twitter: @k2qy __ 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 above 14.350
Hi Guys, I would like to use the K3 with transverter 14/144MHz. Works K3 above 14.350 in transverter mode? Rasto OM3BH __ 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 antenna tuner intermittend operation
Hi, I received my KX3 one week ago and had some fun yesterday with it and an end-fed wire antenna roughly 20 mtrs long. The ATU worked great on getting the SWR down to 1:1 (not on 160) but there was an issue that concerns me: while transmitting, the ATU icon in the display went flashing and the SWR changed. I'm not sure if the relays clicked or not (have been using earphones) but I think so. At another instance, I saw the HI CURR warning in the display and heard a relay clicking (I was only running 4W and the power supply was a 25 A, 13.7 V linear). I think the tuner suddenly went into a kind of bypass mode at both instances. There is a video on youtube showing exactly what happened to me. Is anyone else here experiencing this? Is it related to antenna impedance or poor ground? Have been using the same wire with a K2 and its tuner and never noticed something like this. Vy 73, Ralf, DL6OAP -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX3-antenna-tuner-intermittend-operation-tp7573335.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] KX3 antenna tuner intermittent operation
Ralf, Like the K3's ATU, the KX3's ATU stores up to 32 segments of LC data on each band. On 160 m the segments are 10 kHz wide (1800-1810, 1810-1820, etc.). Anytime you move the VFO into a new segment, then transmit, the ATU will reload the last-used LC data for that segment (or the closest segment for which data has been stored). If the data is the same as for the previous segment, nothing will change. If it's different, the LC data will be sent to the ATU's relays, and the ATU icon will flash. Note that this will not happen until after you pause 1/2 second in your transmission. This way we don't mess up the timing on your first transmission if you were in CW mode. My guess is that you moved the VFO into a new segment where you had previously tuned up into a different load, so that the LC data was a little different. There are a couple of things you might want to do. If you changed antennas, you can optionally go into the ATU MD menu entry and hold CLR to erase all of the ATU LC data for the current band. Then retune the ATU in the part of the band you use, as needed (when SWR is high). A more exhaustive approach might be useful if the antenna's SWR varies widely across the band (often the case on 160 m): Tune up the ATU ahead of time on every segment. That is, set the VFO to about 1805, tune the ATU, then move to 1815 and tune the ATU, etc. This is usually overkill, but it would optimize the LC settings ahead of time for a narrowband antenna. You might try the above and let me know what happens. Another possibility is that you simply have very high SWR resulting in RFI. If that were the case, reducing power to a couple of watts would reduce RFI and the symptoms would go away (or at least be different). My guess is that this is not what's happening; you're just seeing the ATU retune in new segments. I'll also send you our latest field-test firmware which is likely to be released as beta later today (rev 1.47). It has significant stability improvements that could have some bearing on ATU-related problems. 73, Wayne N6KR On May 2, 2013, at 1:16 AM, DL6OAP r...@super-deutschland.net wrote: Hi, I received my KX3 one week ago and had some fun yesterday with it and an end-fed wire antenna roughly 20 mtrs long. The ATU worked great on getting the SWR down to 1:1 (not on 160) but there was an issue that concerns me: while transmitting, the ATU icon in the display went flashing and the SWR changed…. __ 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] KAT500 power source
On 5/2/2013 7:55 AM, Walter Underwood wrote: But the specs trump the news. The news was a forecast. So 1500W may be in the it works for me category instead of supported. 1500W came as straight from the horse's mouth as it is possible to get -- the engineer who ran the beta test program, and who runs them at legal limit in his own contesting station. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] KX3 antenna tuner intermittent operation
Wayne, Thanks for the fast reply. I think I had this issue only two times (am not sure if both were the same band) perhaps during 3 hours or so, but what you are saying would explain why I couldn't reproduce it. If it were RFI, I would expect it to happen all the time which doesn't seem to be the case. Just one more question: are you saying the LC data is not loaded before I transmit in a new segment, just like e. g. the Smartuner? The ATU doesn't follow the VFO when I am only in rx mode? Thanks in advance Vy 73, Ralf, DL6OAP Am 02.05.2013 um 17:33 schrieb wayne burdick [via Elecraft] ml-node+s365791n7573346...@n2.nabble.com: Ralf, Like the K3's ATU, the KX3's ATU stores up to 32 segments of LC data on each band. On 160 m the segments are 10 kHz wide (1800-1810, 1810-1820, etc.). Anytime you move the VFO into a new segment, then transmit, the ATU will reload the last-used LC data for that segment (or the closest segment for which data has been stored). If the data is the same as for the previous segment, nothing will change. If it's different, the LC data will be sent to the ATU's relays, and the ATU icon will flash. Note that this will not happen until after you pause 1/2 second in your transmission. This way we don't mess up the timing on your first transmission if you were in CW mode. My guess is that you moved the VFO into a new segment where you had previously tuned up into a different load, so that the LC data was a little different. There are a couple of things you might want to do. If you changed antennas, you can optionally go into the ATU MD menu entry and hold CLR to erase all of the ATU LC data for the current band. Then retune the ATU in the part of the band you use, as needed (when SWR is high). A more exhaustive approach might be useful if the antenna's SWR varies widely across the band (often the case on 160 m): Tune up the ATU ahead of time on every segment. That is, set the VFO to about 1805, tune the ATU, then move to 1815 and tune the ATU, etc. This is usually overkill, but it would optimize the LC settings ahead of time for a narrowband antenna. You might try the above and let me know what happens. Another possibility is that you simply have very high SWR resulting in RFI. If that were the case, reducing power to a couple of watts would reduce RFI and the symptoms would go away (or at least be different). My guess is that this is not what's happening; you're just seeing the ATU retune in new segments. I'll also send you our latest field-test firmware which is likely to be released as beta later today (rev 1.47). It has significant stability improvements that could have some bearing on ATU-related problems. 73, Wayne N6KR On May 2, 2013, at 1:16 AM, DL6OAP [hidden email] wrote: Hi, I received my KX3 one week ago and had some fun yesterday with it and an end-fed wire antenna roughly 20 mtrs long. The ATU worked great on getting the SWR down to 1:1 (not on 160) but there was an issue that concerns me: while transmitting, the ATU icon in the display went flashing and the SWR changed…. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX3-antenna-tuner-intermittend-operation-tp7573335p7573346.html To unsubscribe from KX3 antenna tuner intermittend operation, click here. NAML -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX3-antenna-tuner-intermittend-operation-tp7573335p7573348.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] KX3 antenna tuner intermittent operation
DL6OAP r...@super-deutschland.net wrote: Wayne, Thanks for the fast reply. I think I had this issue only two times (am not sure if both were the same band) perhaps during 3 hours or so, but what you are saying would explain why I couldn't reproduce it. If it were RFI, I would expect it to happen all the time which doesn't seem to be the case. Just one more question: are you saying the LC data is not loaded before I transmit in a new segment, just like e. g. the Smartuner? The ATU doesn't follow the VFO when I am only in rx mode? That's correct. Updating ATU relays while tuning the VFO in RX mode is really annoying. So we only do it when you transmit, and even then we wait for that first gap in the transmission to avoid mucking with CW timing. The ATU is in-line even in receive mode. If you think that loading new ATU LC data would help with receive, just tap XMIT or hit a 'dit' to reload. Wayne N6KR Thanks in advance Vy 73, Ralf, DL6OAP Am 02.05.2013 um 17:33 schrieb wayne burdick [via Elecraft] ml-node+s365791n7573346...@n2.nabble.com: Ralf, Like the K3's ATU, the KX3's ATU stores up to 32 segments of LC data on each band. On 160 m the segments are 10 kHz wide (1800-1810, 1810-1820, etc.). Anytime you move the VFO into a new segment, then transmit, the ATU will reload the last-used LC data for that segment (or the closest segment for which data has been stored). If the data is the same as for the previous segment, nothing will change. If it's different, the LC data will be sent to the ATU's relays, and the ATU icon will flash. Note that this will not happen until after you pause 1/2 second in your transmission. This way we don't mess up the timing on your first transmission if you were in CW mode. My guess is that you moved the VFO into a new segment where you had previously tuned up into a different load, so that the LC data was a little different. There are a couple of things you might want to do. If you changed antennas, you can optionally go into the ATU MD menu entry and hold CLR to erase all of the ATU LC data for the current band. Then retune the ATU in the part of the band you use, as needed (when SWR is high). A more exhaustive approach might be useful if the antenna's SWR varies widely across the band (often the case on 160 m): Tune up the ATU ahead of time on every segment. That is, set the VFO to about 1805, tune the ATU, then move to 1815 and tune the ATU, etc. This is usually overkill, but it would optimize the LC settings ahead of time for a narrowband antenna. You might try the above and let me know what happens. Another possibility is that you simply have very high SWR resulting in RFI. If that were the case, reducing power to a couple of watts would reduce RFI and the symptoms would go away (or at least be different). My guess is that this is not what's happening; you're just seeing the ATU retune in new segments. I'll also send you our latest field-test firmware which is likely to be released as beta later today (rev 1.47). It has significant stability improvements that could have some bearing on ATU-related problems. 73, Wayne N6KR On May 2, 2013, at 1:16 AM, DL6OAP [hidden email] wrote: Hi, I received my KX3 one week ago and had some fun yesterday with it and an end-fed wire antenna roughly 20 mtrs long. The ATU worked great on getting the SWR down to 1:1 (not on 160) but there was an issue that concerns me: while transmitting, the ATU icon in the display went flashing and the SWR changed…. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX3-antenna-tuner-intermittend-operation-tp7573335p7573346.html To unsubscribe from KX3 antenna tuner intermittend operation, click here. NAML -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX3-antenna-tuner-intermittend-operation-tp7573335p7573348.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
[Elecraft] wtd
Wanted kat500 kit or factory. Thanks WB5OMP __ 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] KAT500 power source
This would be nice for my station. I don't have huge swr issues. I'd just like to flatten the swr on my 40m yagi or 80m delta loop while bouncing around contesting or dxing. Rich - N5ZC On 5/2/2013 10:36 AM, Jim Brown wrote: On 5/2/2013 7:55 AM, Walter Underwood wrote: But the specs trump the news. The news was a forecast. So 1500W may be in the it works for me category instead of supported. 1500W came as straight from the horse's mouth as it is possible to get -- the engineer who ran the beta test program, and who runs them at legal limit in his own contesting station. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] KAT500 power source
Its important to understand that KAT500 operation outside of the specified power limits is not covered by the warranty should something get damaged. We set these specifications with some safety margin to assure that the ATU will not become damaged in normal operation. While it may work at higher powers, one does so at your own risk. 73, Eric elecraft.com On 5/2/2013 8:36 AM, Jim Brown wrote: On 5/2/2013 7:55 AM, Walter Underwood wrote: But the specs trump the news. The news was a forecast. So 1500W may be in the it works for me category instead of supported. 1500W came as straight from the horse's mouth as it is possible to get -- the engineer who ran the beta test program, and who runs them at legal limit in his own contesting station. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K3, AM Bandwidth
I would love to use my K3 on AM WIDER than 6 KHz (+/- 3 KHz). If I were to buy a wider filter, Maybe 8 or 9 KHz and install it will the K3 Firmware accept it ? Thanks Ray WA6VAB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3, AM Bandwidth
Think about the FM filter (13 or 15 KHz bandwidth). Matt Zilmer W6NIA Semper Gumby -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ray on Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2013 1:47 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3, AM Bandwidth I would love to use my K3 on AM WIDER than 6 KHz (+/- 3 KHz). If I were to buy a wider filter, Maybe 8 or 9 KHz and install it will the K3 Firmware accept it ? Thanks Ray WA6VAB __ 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, AM Bandwidth
The K3 now accepts the FM filter (13 KHz) for AM transmit. However, the DSP still generates 6KHz (+/- 3 KHz give or take) wide AM. That is not going to change without programming by Lyle. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 5/2/2013 4:46 PM, Ray on wrote: I would love to use my K3 on AM WIDER than 6 KHz (+/- 3 KHz). If I were to buy a wider filter, Maybe 8 or 9 KHz and install it will the K3 Firmware accept it ? Thanks Ray WA6VAB __ 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] KAT500 power source
Hello Eric So the web page saying 1200 to 1500 would not be correct? I would only run the amp at 1000 anyway, but just making sure before I buy one. Thanks Gerald. On May 2, 2013 2:28 PM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft e...@elecraft.com wrote: Its important to understand that KAT500 operation outside of the specified power limits is not covered by the warranty should something get damaged. We set these specifications with some safety margin to assure that the ATU will not become damaged in normal operation. While it may work at higher powers, one does so at your own risk. 73, Eric elecraft.com On 5/2/2013 8:36 AM, Jim Brown wrote: On 5/2/2013 7:55 AM, Walter Underwood wrote: But the specs trump the news. The news was a forecast. So 1500W may be in the it works for me category instead of supported. 1500W came as straight from the horse's mouth as it is possible to get -- the engineer who ran the beta test program, and who runs them at legal limit in his own contesting station. 73, Jim K9YC __**__**__ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/**mailman/listinfo/elecrafthttp://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.**htmhttp://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:elecr...@mailman.qth.**net 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/elecrafthttp://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.**htmhttp://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:elecr...@mailman.qth.**net 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] OT: APP strain relief
For the fine wires, before crimping I slide a short length about half to 3/4 inch length of shrink tubing with a diameter just big enough to fit over the crimped end on each leadthen I slide another piece of shrink tubing over both wires about 2 inches long and slide it out of the way for now. once the crimp and soldering is done I slide the short tubing so that it is just covering the crimp then shrink it then I slide the terminals into the connector body and join the two together and line them up.Then I slide the longer shrink that covers both wires as close to the APPs as I can and shrink it. It makes a tidy strain reliefAs a side note I never use the pins to hold the connector pairs together I find that they can still come apart Crazy glue does a much better and more permanent job. 73 Dave VE3DVY . On 4/24/2013 17:20, ab2tc wrote: Hi all, I have recently converted more or less completely to Anderson Power Poles for all my power supply needs. I use an 8-way hub from Powerwerx as my distribution center. No fuses as the switching power supplies are current limited and probably failsafe in the event of most electrical component failures. For the big stuff, radios with #12 power wires I am not worried about the lack of strain relief on the connectors. But for the flimsy power cables supplied with accessories like my KAT500, LP-100A, Lantronix serial servers I am. Has anybody found a good solution for this? Should I just fill the back of the connectors with epoxy or is there a better way? Knut - AB2TC -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/OT-APP-strain-relief-tp7573006.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] OT: APP strain relief
{Directed at no one in particular. Don't take it personally, anyone}
I think someone already mentioned doubling the stripped wire back over
the insulation, then putting that in the APP terminal. I'm pretty sure
that's what Anderson recommends. But then you have to PROPERLY crimp it,
not solder it. Do that and you won't need strain relief in ordinary service.
So treat yourself. West Mountain has an EXCELLENT crimper good for all
three APP terminals, and as quality crimpers go, it's dirt
cheap...$40...the price of two large pizzas. Anderson has one too, but
you need a credit check to buy it. I've done hundreds of crimps with the
West Mtn crimper for ham, auto and R/C use. Soldering APPs is ridiculous
and produces an inferior connection that NEEDS strain relief. You select
a stranded wire, then wick solder up it to make it a solid wire. That's
nuts.
I've heard from lots of R/C people that crimping makes an inferior
connection and the connection should be soldered as well. Tell that to
Mercedes or any quality auto or motorcycle manufacturer. Except for PC
boards, just try to find a soldered joint in an automobile of any
quality. You won't.
Everything is crimped. I don't know for sure, but I'd bet all aircraft
connectors are crimped. I bet the SR-71 connectors are all crimped.
Probably the Shuttle too. Shouldn't that be good enough for a 12 volt
ham rig?
Crimping isn't inferior. Crimping with crap tools is inferior.
Well, that feels better.
Eric
KE6US
K1, KX1, K2
On 5/2/2013 4:44 PM, david Moes wrote:
For the fine wires, before crimping I slide a short length about half
to 3/4 inch length of shrink tubing with a diameter just big enough to
fit over the crimped end on each leadthen I slide another piece of
shrink tubing over both wires about 2 inches long and slide it out of
the way for now. once the crimp and soldering is done I slide
the short tubing so that it is just covering the crimp then shrink
it then I slide the terminals into the connector body and join the
two together and line them up.Then I slide the longer shrink that
covers both wires as close to the APPs as I can and shrink it. It
makes a tidy strain reliefAs a side note I never use the pins to
hold the connector pairs together I find that they can still come
apart Crazy glue does a much better and more permanent job.
73 Dave VE3DVY
. On 4/24/2013 17:20, ab2tc wrote:
Hi all,
I have recently converted more or less completely to Anderson Power
Poles
for all my power supply needs. I use an 8-way hub from Powerwerx as my
distribution center. No fuses as the switching power supplies are
current
limited and probably failsafe in the event of most electrical component
failures. For the big stuff, radios with #12 power wires I am not
worried
about the lack of strain relief on the connectors. But for the flimsy
power
cables supplied with accessories like my KAT500, LP-100A, Lantronix
serial
servers I am. Has anybody found a good solution for this? Should I
just fill
the back of the connectors with epoxy or is there a better way?
Knut - AB2TC
--
View this message in context:
http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/OT-APP-strain-relief-tp7573006.html
Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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Re: [Elecraft] OT: APP strain relief
you are correct that a properly crimped connection is as good as
soldering but that really wasn't the point and I'm not sure why I even
mentioned soldering perhaps because I know that some do. I just crimp
as its way faster less burns and swearing and works fine for me.
The biggest downfall of soldering APP is that the solder and flux can
run down the pin where contact is made defeating the silver plating
creating problems.
However, whether you crimp or not, with light gauge wires like that
the power cable for an HT or small accessory, a strain relief will help
prevent wires from breaking off right at the end of the connector due to
fatigue. Frequent connecting and reconnecting plus moving equipment
while connected will break the wire right where it comes out of the
crimped connector pin. (I'm not talking about the wires pulling out).
A strain relief will reduce the radius of the bend in the wire at the
connection when it is moved aroundI don't see how crimping the
connector alone will prevent a wire bending and eventually breaking off
from fatigue
As for Mercedes Way back I was a Mechanic at a Mercedes dealer and I
know for sure that Mercedes Benz soldered plenty including pins for the
connectors. I'm sure that is changed in the last 3 decades due to
manufacturing cost.
David Moes
dm...@nexicom.net
VE3DVY
On 5/2/2013 21:42, EricJ wrote:
{Directed at no one in particular. Don't take it personally, anyone}
I think someone already mentioned doubling the stripped wire back over
the insulation, then putting that in the APP terminal. I'm pretty sure
that's what Anderson recommends. But then you have to PROPERLY crimp
it, not solder it. Do that and you won't need strain relief in
ordinary service.
So treat yourself. West Mountain has an EXCELLENT crimper good for all
three APP terminals, and as quality crimpers go, it's dirt
cheap...$40...the price of two large pizzas. Anderson has one too, but
you need a credit check to buy it. I've done hundreds of crimps with
the West Mtn crimper for ham, auto and R/C use. Soldering APPs is
ridiculous and produces an inferior connection that NEEDS strain
relief. You select a stranded wire, then wick solder up it to make it
a solid wire. That's nuts.
I've heard from lots of R/C people that crimping makes an inferior
connection and the connection should be soldered as well. Tell that to
Mercedes or any quality auto or motorcycle manufacturer. Except for PC
boards, just try to find a soldered joint in an automobile of any
quality. You won't.
Everything is crimped. I don't know for sure, but I'd bet all aircraft
connectors are crimped. I bet the SR-71 connectors are all crimped.
Probably the Shuttle too. Shouldn't that be good enough for a 12 volt
ham rig?
Crimping isn't inferior. Crimping with crap tools is inferior.
Well, that feels better.
Eric
KE6US
K1, KX1, K2
On 5/2/2013 4:44 PM, david Moes wrote:
For the fine wires, before crimping I slide a short length about
half to 3/4 inch length of shrink tubing with a diameter just big
enough to fit over the crimped end on each leadthen I slide
another piece of shrink tubing over both wires about 2 inches long
and slide it out of the way for now. once the crimp and
soldering is done I slide the short tubing so that it is just
covering the crimp then shrink it then I slide the terminals into
the connector body and join the two together and line them up.
Then I slide the longer shrink that covers both wires as close to the
APPs as I can and shrink it. It makes a tidy strain reliefAs a
side note I never use the pins to hold the connector pairs together I
find that they can still come apart Crazy glue does a much
better and more permanent job.
73 Dave VE3DVY
. On 4/24/2013 17:20, ab2tc wrote:
Hi all,
I have recently converted more or less completely to Anderson Power
Poles
for all my power supply needs. I use an 8-way hub from Powerwerx
as my
distribution center. No fuses as the switching power supplies are
current
limited and probably failsafe in the event of most electrical component
failures. For the big stuff, radios with #12 power wires I am not
worried
about the lack of strain relief on the connectors. But for the
flimsy power
cables supplied with accessories like my KAT500, LP-100A, Lantronix
serial
servers I am. Has anybody found a good solution for this? Should I
just fill
the back of the connectors with epoxy or is there a better way?
Knut - AB2TC
--
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Please help
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Enjoying my KX3 but it doesn't perform well in AM transmit mode unlike the K3.Low modulation problems.Anybody had experience with this? Would like to use AM at times as I could eliminate my AM station.Assume AM in the KX3 was not a primary design consideration.Have spoken with Customer Service but not much info.Comments anybody... Thanks Larry W1FXR __ 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: APP strain relief
Well, we might be talking past one another to some extent, because we
seem to be largely in agreement. When I suggested folding the stripped
wire back over the insulation for fine wires, that takes are of the
fatiguing problem without strain relief because now you don't have bare
wire at the end of the terminal. The insulation runs all the way inside
the barrel. I've never had a failure using that method for small and
fine wires. In R/C, we are often pulling connections apart several times
during every flight day and more times on the bench. Nothing in a ham
shack gets that kind of flexing. Never had a crimped connection fail,
but I used to have lots of fatigued solder joints in R/C.
Eric
KE6US
On 5/2/2013 7:52 PM, david Moes wrote:
you are correct that a properly crimped connection is as good as
soldering but that really wasn't the point and I'm not sure why I even
mentioned soldering perhaps because I know that some do. I just
crimp as its way faster less burns and swearing and works fine for
me. The biggest downfall of soldering APP is that the solder and
flux can run down the pin where contact is made defeating the silver
plating creating problems.
However, whether you crimp or not, with light gauge wires like that
the power cable for an HT or small accessory, a strain relief will
help prevent wires from breaking off right at the end of the connector
due to fatigue. Frequent connecting and reconnecting plus moving
equipment while connected will break the wire right where it comes out
of the crimped connector pin. (I'm not talking about the wires
pulling out).A strain relief will reduce the radius of the bend in
the wire at the connection when it is moved aroundI don't see how
crimping the connector alone will prevent a wire bending and
eventually breaking off from fatigue
As for Mercedes Way back I was a Mechanic at a Mercedes dealer and I
know for sure that Mercedes Benz soldered plenty including pins for
the connectors. I'm sure that is changed in the last 3 decades due
to manufacturing cost.
David Moes
dm...@nexicom.net
VE3DVY
On 5/2/2013 21:42, EricJ wrote:
{Directed at no one in particular. Don't take it personally, anyone}
I think someone already mentioned doubling the stripped wire back
over the insulation, then putting that in the APP terminal. I'm
pretty sure that's what Anderson recommends. But then you have to
PROPERLY crimp it, not solder it. Do that and you won't need strain
relief in ordinary service.
So treat yourself. West Mountain has an EXCELLENT crimper good for
all three APP terminals, and as quality crimpers go, it's dirt
cheap...$40...the price of two large pizzas. Anderson has one too,
but you need a credit check to buy it. I've done hundreds of crimps
with the West Mtn crimper for ham, auto and R/C use. Soldering APPs
is ridiculous and produces an inferior connection that NEEDS strain
relief. You select a stranded wire, then wick solder up it to make it
a solid wire. That's nuts.
I've heard from lots of R/C people that crimping makes an inferior
connection and the connection should be soldered as well. Tell that
to Mercedes or any quality auto or motorcycle manufacturer. Except
for PC boards, just try to find a soldered joint in an automobile of
any quality. You won't.
Everything is crimped. I don't know for sure, but I'd bet all
aircraft connectors are crimped. I bet the SR-71 connectors are all
crimped. Probably the Shuttle too. Shouldn't that be good enough for
a 12 volt ham rig?
Crimping isn't inferior. Crimping with crap tools is inferior.
Well, that feels better.
Eric
KE6US
K1, KX1, K2
On 5/2/2013 4:44 PM, david Moes wrote:
For the fine wires, before crimping I slide a short length about
half to 3/4 inch length of shrink tubing with a diameter just big
enough to fit over the crimped end on each leadthen I slide
another piece of shrink tubing over both wires about 2 inches long
and slide it out of the way for now. once the crimp and
soldering is done I slide the short tubing so that it is just
covering the crimp then shrink it then I slide the terminals into
the connector body and join the two together and line them up.
Then I slide the longer shrink that covers both wires as close to
the APPs as I can and shrink it. It makes a tidy strain relief
As a side note I never use the pins to hold the connector pairs
together I find that they can still come apart Crazy glue does
a much better and more permanent job.
73 Dave VE3DVY
. On 4/24/2013 17:20, ab2tc wrote:
Hi all,
I have recently converted more or less completely to Anderson Power
Poles
for all my power supply needs. I use an 8-way hub from Powerwerx
as my
distribution center. No fuses as the switching power supplies are
current
limited and probably failsafe in the event of most electrical
component
failures. For the big stuff, radios with #12 power wires I am not
