Re: [Elecraft] KX3 Headphone Clicks
Yes, this is a known issue. Try to turn down the AF gain when keying. That will make it much better.73 de Hal la43xx On 13-12-30, Klaus Koppendorfer k...@ccf.net wrote: that is what we had several times told to elecraft, qsk on kx3 is bad, you can read this also at bob sherwood Von: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] im Auftrag von Jim Bennett [w6...@mac.com] Gesendet: Montag, 30. Dezember 2013 01:26 An: Elecraft Reflector Reflector Betreff: [Elecraft] KX3 Headphone Clicks Hi All - just this past weekend completed building KX3 # 5539. Seems to work fine except for one thing. When I've got headphones plugged in and running full break-in I'm hearing a fairly strong clicking noise. I set the rig into semi-QSK with a 1-second DLY and see that the click is happening when the radio goes back into receive, NOT when I key it and send RF out into the ozone. Any idea what's happening here? I've tried it with three different sets of 'phones: A Sony MDR-V6, a Bose Triport, and an el-cheapo pair of 'round-the-ear phones that I use with my iPhone at the gym. I hear the same click on all three. I then unplugged the 'phones and listened to the built-in speaker with DLY at zero. The clicks are there, too. Very annoying. Any hints?? Jim / W6JHB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@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 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] Wanted XV144 transverter UK
First question is why as the XV144 its much larger than the radio - do you mean the internal module? I have two, one to go with my K2 and K3 for 2m and the other for my 23/13cms IF. I am looking for an XV432. If I find one I will no longer need my spare XV144 which currently drives my microwave transverters. Mike -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Wanted-XV144-transverter-UK-tp7582220p7582246.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
All: This issue sounds familiar. I'll be operating along in the middle of an SSB QSO and suddenly the KAT500 goes wild. The SWR displayed on the meter is HIGHER than the antenna WITHOUT a tuner. The sad part is that it will go on for maybe 10 seconds and no match is found (odd when considering the nearly resonant antenna). The amp then goes into fault and so on. It seems that if I stop the QSO and retune manually all can again be well, but a serious problem indeed. Because it's so inconsistent and unexpected, I've been unable to try it against a dummy load; however, I did rebuild both 10 meter antennas (just before the recent contest) thinking they might be at fault. No joy ... problem continued and is showing up on other bands too. Brian KD0HII -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ray Coles Sent: Sunday, December 29, 2013 2:46 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem I do hope someone out there can give me a hand in solving a 2 month old problem with my Elecraft station, even though the problem may not be due to my Elecraft rig at all. I had been happily operating my K3/KPA500/KAT500 rig for about 10 months with my simple wire doublet antenna, about 25 metres long and 5m high. I work mainly digital modes, especially JT65 so I rarely switch the KPA500 to Operate, using it mainly as a Wattmeter. I have used it on SSB on my local Inter-G club net on 40m however, and everything used to be fine and dandy at all power settings from 40W to 400W with the KAT500 set to Auto. THEN one evening operating at about 60W JT65 on 20m the Kat500 started hunting and the SWR shot up into the red. Since that event the problem has dogged me continuously. Of course, I immediately suspected a short (or open) in my antenna system. My antenna feed used RG58 out to a 4:1 balun outside in a convenient hawthorn bush. 300 ohm ladder line went from the balun to the doublet T piece. Which was offset 1/3-2/3. This antenna matched, and had bagged QSOs on all bands from 80m to 6m. The RG58 was suspect number one. I replaced it with UR8 and used a new route to the balun which obviated the need for any burial. THE PROBLEM REMAINED. The 300W rated balun was the next suspect, and I already had a replacement 1kW unit to hand. I changed it. THE PROBLEM REMAINED, but by now I had learned that if I ran the KAT500 on Manual and kept power below 40W I could operate, and so I continued to add DX QSOs to my log. All that was left were the aerial components, so I dropped the antenna and changed the ladder line, the T piece the antenna wire and the end insulators. THE PROBLEM REMAINED and it seemed that I would be forever limited to 40W. I had an alternative antenna, an MFJ Magloop which could be happily driven to 100+W connected either to K3 Ant2 or KAT500 Ant3 and I worked surprising DX with it, but I really wanted my lovely Doublet back. (Forgot to mention that I also changed rig connecting leads). Since then I have played with my rig to try and understand things better and I am beginning to wonder whether there COULD be a rig problem. I also note that when I start transmitting, power is always less than I have selected and it climbs steadily to the demanded value over time. I have set up ALC as documented. If I set power greater than 40W (this varies a little band to band) the power climbs untilBAM! The SWR of 1 to 1.4 suddenly shoots up into the Red with the KAT500 utility recording values of 5-25! This is a weird set of observations I know, but I would be grateful for any further suggestions from the trusty Elecraft Reflector Brains Trust. HNY and 73, Ray Coles, C.Eng. M0XDL 10 Littlemoor Road, Weymouth DT3 6AA Tel: +44 (0) 1305 833699 Mob: 07831 516517 __ 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] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
This is exactly why I want to see this complete discussion in full view. It is a problem here also - occurring often and without any obvious cause. Putting the tuner in AUTO or in MANUAL does not stop it from happening. The tuner does not seem to understand the term MANUAL. My experience is from 75 meters - with no change in antennas - and will occur on oft used frequencies in the middle of a transmission. The tuner just suddenly decides it is time to make noises. I do not use other bands and the antenna is a dipole that present no problems to other rigs and tuners (read as nothing wrong with the antenna or feedlines, which have all been completely checked). AT the very least, I now know I am not alone with this problem. Thanks, Bill W2BLC K-Line __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
Hi all, While it may not solve the problem that the original rp posted, here are some things I've learned while putting together the K-Line book (out soon). It is best to operate in MAN mode after you have trained your tuner to your antennas. The reason is the KAT is continually measuring VSWR as you transmit and it takes a little time to do that. If it measures the forward voltage at one point in a SSB waveform and the reverse in another, you can see that the VSWR calculation will be off. If you are in AUTO mode, it will then try to go into a tune. There isn't much of a downside to operating in MAN mode. It basically ignores the transient wrong VSWR and if there is a really bad antenna (it fell down or something) the tuner will fault and take the amp off line and you will then be able to correct the problem. You can also set the Key Interrupt VSWR threshold to something other than 99. This kind of acts as a back up to the KPA's innate ability to protect itself. I have mine set at 4:1 (I'm kind of a belt and braces kind of guy), The other thing to do is to make sure you have the Amplifier Key Interrupt Power optimized for the KPA500. The factory default is about 30 watts which means the tuner won't interrupt the amp keying when it sees 30 watts. Cheers and Happy New Year all, Fred KE7X -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian Linn Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 5:36 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem All: This issue sounds familiar. I'll be operating along in the middle of an SSB QSO and suddenly the KAT500 goes wild. The SWR displayed on the meter is HIGHER than the antenna WITHOUT a tuner. The sad part is that it will go on for maybe 10 seconds and no match is found (odd when considering the nearly resonant antenna). The amp then goes into fault and so on. It seems that if I stop the QSO and retune manually all can again be well, but a serious problem indeed. Because it's so inconsistent and unexpected, I've been unable to try it against a dummy load; however, I did rebuild both 10 meter antennas (just before the recent contest) thinking they might be at fault. No joy ... problem continued and is showing up on other bands too. Brian KD0HII -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ray Coles Sent: Sunday, December 29, 2013 2:46 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem I do hope someone out there can give me a hand in solving a 2 month old problem with my Elecraft station, even though the problem may not be due to my Elecraft rig at all. I had been happily operating my K3/KPA500/KAT500 rig for about 10 months with my simple wire doublet antenna, about 25 metres long and 5m high. I work mainly digital modes, especially JT65 so I rarely switch the KPA500 to Operate, using it mainly as a Wattmeter. I have used it on SSB on my local Inter-G club net on 40m however, and everything used to be fine and dandy at all power settings from 40W to 400W with the KAT500 set to Auto. THEN one evening operating at about 60W JT65 on 20m the Kat500 started hunting and the SWR shot up into the red. Since that event the problem has dogged me continuously. Of course, I immediately suspected a short (or open) in my antenna system. My antenna feed used RG58 out to a 4:1 balun outside in a convenient hawthorn bush. 300 ohm ladder line went from the balun to the doublet T piece. Which was offset 1/3-2/3. This antenna matched, and had bagged QSOs on all bands from 80m to 6m. The RG58 was suspect number one. I replaced it with UR8 and used a new route to the balun which obviated the need for any burial. THE PROBLEM REMAINED. The 300W rated balun was the next suspect, and I already had a replacement 1kW unit to hand. I changed it. THE PROBLEM REMAINED, but by now I had learned that if I ran the KAT500 on Manual and kept power below 40W I could operate, and so I continued to add DX QSOs to my log. All that was left were the aerial components, so I dropped the antenna a nd changed the ladder line, the T piece the antenna wire and the end insulators. THE PROBLEM REMAINED and it seemed that I would be forever limited to 40W. I had an alternative antenna, an MFJ Magloop which could be happily driven to 100+W connected either to K3 Ant2 or KAT500 Ant3 and I worked surprising DX with it, but I really wanted my lovely Doublet back. (Forgot to mention that I also changed rig connecting leads). Since then I have played with my rig to try and understand things better and I am beginning to wonder whether there COULD be a rig problem. I also note that when I start transmitting, power is always less than I have selected and it climbs steadily to the demanded value over time. I have set up ALC as documented. If I set
Re: [Elecraft] Wanted XV144 transverter UK
Yes, it is indeed the external transverter XV144 unit I am looking for. I am not planning to use it portable, rather it will be used in the home station. I do have a home built transverter I could resurrect, however it is built in several boxes and I am trying to rationalise the station a little. 73 David Anderson GM4JJJ On 30 Dec 2013, at 10:21, AD6XY willis...@gmail.com wrote: First question is why as the XV144 its much larger than the radio - do you mean the internal module? I have two, one to go with my K2 and K3 for 2m and the other for my 23/13cms IF. I am looking for an XV432. If I find one I will no longer need my spare XV144 which currently drives my microwave transverters. Mike -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Wanted-XV144-transverter-UK-tp7582220p7582246.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] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
I experience this as well, only on 80 meters with the KPA500 in operate. Always thought that it was RF getting into the KAT500 sensing as I can usually back off to 300 Watts, force a KAT500 re-tune and continue. Glenn - KD0Q On 12/30/2013 07:59, Bill W2BLC wrote: This is exactly why I want to see this complete discussion in full view. It is a problem here also - occurring often and without any obvious cause. Putting the tuner in AUTO or in MANUAL does not stop it from happening. The tuner does not seem to understand the term MANUAL. My experience is from 75 meters - with no change in antennas - and will occur on oft used frequencies in the middle of a transmission. The tuner just suddenly decides it is time to make noises. I do not use other bands and the antenna is a dipole that present no problems to other rigs and tuners (read as nothing wrong with the antenna or feedlines, which have all been completely checked). AT the very least, I now know I am not alone with this problem. Thanks, Bill W2BLC K-Line __ 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] [KX3] SDR transmitter issues?
With regard to SM5BSZ's SDR wideband-noise performance table (http://www.sm5bsz.com/dynrange/dubus313.pdf): Something doesn't jive with the table in the above report. I spot checked by looking up the Flex5000A in July 2008 QST, fig 3. QST shows wideband noise never gets worse than -120dbc, although the report says it is -77 at 350 KHz. And (as I remember) the K3 report from QST showed phase noise way out at the extremes of the meausrement dropping off much more than this author reported, down into the range of -155 db. Am I reading something wrong? Apparently this report is not recent because the worst performer of late (from QST measurements) has been the FT3000. Too bad SM5BSZ didn't comment on it. Rick K2XT __ 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] FW: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
I take it everyone has good station RF ground systems in the shack (or where ever the tuner is located)? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ / J68HZ/ 8P6HK/ ZF2HZ Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch Staunton, Illinois email: b...@wjschmidt.com -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of KD0Q-Glenn Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 10:24 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem I experience this as well, only on 80 meters with the KPA500 in operate. Always thought that it was RF getting into the KAT500 sensing as I can usually back off to 300 Watts, force a KAT500 re-tune and continue. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Fwd: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
I’ll use the right email address this time :) From: Gary Ferdinand g...@w2cs.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem Date: December 30, 2013 at 9:43:01 AM EST To: elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net It is my understanding that the KAT500 will monitor the VRFL and will fault to protect itself if it’s too high. There are some impedances out there that the tuner can handle at lower power but simply cannot at higher power. So, as you increase the drive, the VRFL ncreases and the KAT500 faults. When the tuner faults, it no longer is presenting a tuned system to the KPA500, which then, in sympathy, faults and shuts down. Since the (complex) impedance varies along the feed line, other feed line lengths might bring the impedance into a range the tuner can accept. Of course when using a feed line to a multi-band antenna, this might just move the problem to another band. But if it’s easy to do, try it. Or, if you have something like a Rig Expert you can plug into where the tuner is and determine the impedance the tuner sees and use that as a baseline for any feeder length experiments. Good luck and 73, Gary W2CS __ 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 port?
I am in the process of building my K3. So I am not an expert, but I am getting close to completing the build and all is going well except I was missing one of the Anderson power pole clips and they are sending another so I am on hold. This pause gave me more time to read the construction and owners manual over again for maybe the 10th time Here is my question. What is the port on the bottom front of the K3? I have not found any reference to it and was wondering. Looks like a connection to network the K3 but that is a guess. Any help? 73 OZ From: Larry Martus Wassmann Non omnis moriar (Not all of me will die) - - - The good I do will live forever. www.w3oz.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] Elecraft Digest, Vol 116, Issue 45
Ray, I am a long-term fan of Off-Center Fed antennas. They are a different species than the usual center-fed doublet, however. A question for you: Are you using a current- or voltage-balun to transition from the coax to the balanced line? The OCF antenna is, by definition, not balanced, and therefore the “balanced” feed line will radiate. If you are using a voltage balun and not taking any precautions (such as ferrite beads on the coax) you may be getting RF into the tuner from the antenna side and confusing the microprocessor. Just a thought. Ken, W1KRT On Dec 30, 2013, at 9:21 AM, elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net wrote: Message: 13 Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2013 22:46:00 - From: Ray Coles raycole...@gmail.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem Message-ID: 006201cf04e7$c0483d70$40d8b850$@com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I do hope someone out there can give me a hand in solving a 2 month old problem with my Elecraft station, even though the problem may not be due to my Elecraft rig at all. I had been happily operating my K3/KPA500/KAT500 rig for about 10 months with my simple wire doublet antenna, about 25 metres long and 5m high. I work mainly digital modes, especially JT65 so I rarely switch the KPA500 to Operate, using it mainly as a Wattmeter. I have used it on SSB on my local Inter-G club net on 40m however, and everything used to be fine and dandy at all power settings from 40W to 400W with the KAT500 set to Auto. THEN one evening operating at about 60W JT65 on 20m the Kat500 started hunting and the SWR shot up into the red. Since that event the problem has dogged me continuously. Of course, I immediately suspected a short (or open) in my antenna system. My antenna feed used RG58 out to a 4:1 balun outside in a convenient hawthorn bush. 300 ohm ladder line went from the balun to the doublet T piece. Which was offset 1/3-2/3. This antenna matched, and had bagged QSOs on all bands from 80m to 6m. The RG58 was suspect number one. I replaced it with UR8 and used a new route to the balun which obviated the need for any burial. THE PROBLEM REMAINED. The 300W rated balun was the next suspect, and I already had a replacement 1kW unit to hand. I changed it. THE PROBLEM REMAINED, but by now I had learned that if I ran the KAT500 on Manual and kept power below 40W I could operate, and so I continued to add DX QSOs to my log. All that was left were the aerial components, so I dropped the antenna and changed the ladder line, the T piece the antenna wire and the end insulators. THE PROBLEM REMAINED and it seemed that I would be forever limited to 40W. I had an alternative antenna, an MFJ Magloop which could be happily driven to 100+W connected either to K3 Ant2 or KAT500 Ant3 and I worked surprising DX with it, but I really wanted my lovely Doublet back. (Forgot to mention that I also changed rig connecting leads). Since then I have played with my rig to try and understand things better and I am beginning to wonder whether there COULD be a rig problem. I also note that when I start transmitting, power is always less than I have selected and it climbs steadily to the demanded value over time. I have set up ALC as documented. If I set power greater than 40W (this varies a little band to band) the power climbs untilBAM! The SWR of 1 to 1.4 suddenly shoots up into the Red with the KAT500 utility recording values of 5-25! This is a weird set of observations I know, but I would be grateful for any further suggestions from the trusty Elecraft Reflector Brains Trust. HNY and 73, Ray Coles, C.Eng. M0XDL 10 Littlemoor Road, Weymouth DT3 6AA Tel: +44 (0) 1305 833699 Mob: 07831 516517 __ 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] SDR transmitter issues?
Yes I was confused by that too, it appears that Leif has adjusted the TX noise figures from the QST dBc/Hz to a bandwidth of 500 Hz which is what QST use for RX measurements. Leif has not actually measured the K3 or KX3, just used the QST results (the graph of composite noise and converted them for his purpose of showing differences between receiver and transmitter noise. He has measured the particular brand that exhibited very poor noise sidebands on transmit. David Anderson GM4JJJ On 30 Dec 2013, at 14:34, Rick Stealey rstea...@hotmail.com wrote: With regard to SM5BSZ's SDR wideband-noise performance table (http://www.sm5bsz.com/dynrange/dubus313.pdf): Something doesn't jive with the table in the above report. I spot checked by looking up the Flex5000A in July 2008 QST, fig 3. QST shows wideband noise never gets worse than -120dbc, although the report says it is -77 at 350 KHz. And (as I remember) the K3 report from QST showed phase noise way out at the extremes of the meausrement dropping off much more than this author reported, down into the range of -155 db. Am I reading something wrong? Apparently this report is not recent because the worst performer of late (from QST measurements) has been the FT3000. Too bad SM5BSZ didn't comment on it. Rick K2XT __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
I, too, have seen this spurious KAT500 retune problem. I'm running a similar setup: K3-KPA500-LP-100A-KAT500-coax-balun-ladder line-hf doublet I'lll be happily working 75M and all of a sudden the KAT500 starts re-tuning, and with the LP-100 alarm going off and the relays chattering in the KAT500, it sounds a bit like all hell breaking loose. I reverted the KAT500 to firmware version 1.32 and the problem *seems* to happen less often... That could be my imagination, though. Also I think that this has happened in MANUAL mode, as well as automatic. Perhaps it would be useful to have an option to only re-tune during the first few seconds of transmit? Jeff __ 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 port?
Hi Larry, according to the K3 manual D10, page 13 this RJ-45 connector is used with accessory devices. There were some threads on this topic asking for user accessible applications but to my knowledge until now this interface is only used by Elecraft for development and diagnostic purposes. 73, Win DK9IP Am 30.12.2013 15:45, schrieb Larry Wassmann: I am in the process of building my K3. So I am not an expert, but I am getting close to completing the build and all is going well except I was missing one of the Anderson power pole clips and they are sending another so I am on hold. This pause gave me more time to read the construction and owners manual over again for maybe the 10th time Here is my question. What is the port on the bottom front of the K3? I have not found any reference to it and was wondering. Looks like a connection to network the K3 but that is a guess. Any help? 73 OZ From: Larry Martus Wassmann Non omnis moriar (Not all of me will die) - - - The good I do will live forever. www.w3oz.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 port?
It's a test connector for factory testing. Fred K6DGW Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G Larry Wassmann w3ozwiz...@hotmail.com wrote: I am in the process of building my K3. So I am not an expert, but I am getting close to completing the build and all is going well except I was missing one of the Anderson power pole clips and they are sending another so I am on hold. This pause gave me more time to read the construction and owners manual over again for maybe the 10th time Here is my question. What is the port on the bottom front of the K3? I have not found any reference to it and was wondering. Looks like a connection to network the K3 but that is a guess. Any help? 73 OZ From: Larry Martus Wassmann Non omnis moriar (Not all of me will die) - - - The good I do will live forever. www.w3oz.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] LP-PAN 2 For Sale
Selling LP-PAN 2 which is surplus for me. Just a few months old. Perfect. $200 - shipped USA CONUS. PayPal or Check Steve N4LQ __ 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] SDR transmitter issues?
I agree after rereading all of his post and charts twice they seem to be flawed, again by someone without a real radio to test. He does seem somewhat confused about the measurements of the QST labs and that of Rob Sherwood both of which have had hands on testing. IMHO only, a Flex is a nice bench setup but any SDR radio needs to operate without a computer hooked to it all the time to function. I have not owned one but have considered a 1500 if I find one reasonably priced. 73, Fred/N0AZZ K3 Ser # 6730--KX3 # 5210--K2/100 # 6470-KAT100 P3/SVGA--KAT500--W2 Amps Elecraft KPA500 HF/6m--Alpha's 9500 HF--87A HF--Mirage B-5030-G 300+w--(2) B-5016-G's 165w 2m -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David Anderson Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 8:52 AM To: Rick Stealey Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] SDR transmitter issues? Yes I was confused by that too, it appears that Leif has adjusted the TX noise figures from the QST dBc/Hz to a bandwidth of 500 Hz which is what QST use for RX measurements. Leif has not actually measured the K3 or KX3, just used the QST results (the graph of composite noise and converted them for his purpose of showing differences between receiver and transmitter noise. He has measured the particular brand that exhibited very poor noise sidebands on transmit. David Anderson GM4JJJ On 30 Dec 2013, at 14:34, Rick Stealey rstea...@hotmail.com wrote: With regard to SM5BSZ's SDR wideband-noise performance table (http://www.sm5bsz.com/dynrange/dubus313.pdf): Something doesn't jive with the table in the above report. I spot checked by looking up the Flex5000A in July 2008 QST, fig 3. QST shows wideband noise never gets worse than -120dbc, although the report says it is -77 at 350 KHz. And (as I remember) the K3 report from QST showed phase noise way out at the extremes of the meausrement dropping off much more than this author reported, down into the range of -155 db. Am I reading something wrong? Apparently this report is not recent because the worst performer of late (from QST measurements) has been the FT3000. Too bad SM5BSZ didn't comment on it. Rick K2XT __ 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] [KX3] SDR transmitter issues?
Although it is not shown on the graph nor in the text, the ARRL report shows the noise in dBc/Hz, i.e. a bandwidth of 1 Hz. This must be adjusted to the appropriate bandwidth. Add 27 dB to get to 500 Hz and about 33 dB to get to a typical SSB bandwidth. And the worst noise is about -110 dBc/Hz out about 350 kHz from the carrier. Add 33 to that and you get -77 dBc as shown by SM5BSZ. And the one poster the other day who claimed his Flex 1500 did not have have this issue is incorrect. According to the ARRL lab reports *ALL* Flex models are afflicted. 73 de dave ab9ca/4 On 12/30/13 8:34 AM, Rick Stealey wrote: With regard to SM5BSZ's SDR wideband-noise performance table (http://www.sm5bsz.com/dynrange/dubus313.pdf): Something doesn't jive with the table in the above report. I spot checked by looking up the Flex5000A in July 2008 QST, fig 3. QST shows wideband noise never gets worse than -120dbc, although the report says it is -77 at 350 KHz. And (as I remember) the K3 report from QST showed phase noise way out at the extremes of the meausrement dropping off much more than this author reported, down into the range of -155 db. Am I reading something wrong? Apparently this report is not recent because the worst performer of late (from QST measurements) has been the FT3000. Too bad SM5BSZ didn't comment on it. Rick K2XT __ 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] W6JHB KX3 Clicking
Hi Howard - Yes, I see there were a couple replies since I initially posted. One poster notes that it is a known issue, and that's only partly comforting - at least someone is aware of it and hopefully working on resolution. Another sez his is only with headphones inserted. Mine does it with and without headphones. And yes, turning down the AF gain reduces the clicking, but it has to be turned down so far that I cannot hear the other station(s) - not a useful solution. With headphones removed, there is no clicking at AF level 12. But, with the built-in speaker I can't hear anything except for the monitor tone. Turning AF gain to about 30 or more allows me to hear signals on the band, but the clicking is there. With headphones inserted, the clicking is quite obvious down to AF level 2. At level 1 is is gone. If I turn off VOX and key my paddle, there is no RF sent, but the clicking is still there, so it has nothing to do with RF being sent. Something in the T/R circuitry, methinks. Unti l the engineers can get it corrected, I can use the rig w/o VOX (manual transmit) to avoid the annoying clicking. Jim On Monday, Dec 30, 2013, at Monday, 8:48 AM, Howard K6IA Elecraft Support wrote: Jim, I see that this was answered for you on the reflector. I have passed your message onto the Engineering team for their review. Regards Howard K6IA -- 73, Howard Stephenson K6IA Elecraft Customer Support (831) 763-4211 EXT 169 -- On 12/29/2013 7:17 PM, Jim Bennett wrote: I posted this on the reflector on Sunday afternoon and no replies from anyone in the group, so I'm turning to you folks. Hi All - just this past weekend completed building KX3 # 5539. Seems to work fine except for one thing. When I've got headphones plugged in and running full break-in I'm hearing a fairly strong clicking noise. I set the rig into semi-QSK with a 1-second DLY and see that the click is happening when the radio goes back into receive, NOT when I key it and send RF out into the ozone. Any idea what's happening here? I've tried it with three different sets of 'phones: A Sony MDR-V6, a Bose Triport, and an el-cheapo pair of 'round-the-ear phones that I use with my iPhone at the gym. I hear the same click on all three. I then unplugged the 'phones and listened to the built-in speaker with DLY at zero. The clicks are there, too. Very annoying. Any hints?? Jim Bennett / W6JHB 224 American River Canyon Dr. Folsom, CA 95630-7409 w6...@arrl.net Web: http://www.w6jhb.com Being retired doesn't mean I'm not part of the work force - just that I'm not forced to work! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
I have had a similar thing happen to me also. I have been in a contest on a run freq. and suddenly the KPA500/KAT500 will fault. This is on CW. If I do a 'tune' the amp/tuner will retune and I can continue. Of course in the few seconds it takes I will usually lose the freq. 73, Joe K2UF -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of KD0Q-Glenn Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 9:24 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem I experience this as well, only on 80 meters with the KPA500 in operate. Always thought that it was RF getting into the KAT500 sensing as I can usually back off to 300 Watts, force a KAT500 re-tune and continue. Glenn - KD0Q On 12/30/2013 07:59, Bill W2BLC wrote: This is exactly why I want to see this complete discussion in full view. It is a problem here also - occurring often and without any obvious cause. Putting the tuner in AUTO or in MANUAL does not stop it from happening. The tuner does not seem to understand the term MANUAL. My experience is from 75 meters - with no change in antennas - and will occur on oft used frequencies in the middle of a transmission. The tuner just suddenly decides it is time to make noises. I do not use other bands and the antenna is a dipole that present no problems to other rigs and tuners (read as nothing wrong with the antenna or feedlines, which have all been completely checked). AT the very least, I now know I am not alone with this problem. Thanks, Bill W2BLC K-Line __ 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] KX3 audible keying artifacts during CW keying (with headphones)
Hi Jim, This is something we hope to minimize in a future firmware release. Meanwhile, here are some things you can try: - cut the lowest 3 audio receive equalization bands by a significant amount in CW mode (RX EQ menu entry) - reduce the receiver's DSP bandwidth in CW mode (try 100-300 Hz) - use a non-zero QSK delay - turn on the noise blanker and setting it to a low level - turn on the noise reduction and setting it to a low level - use headphones with less bass response The T/R artifact you're hearing is usually a result of using headphones with extremely low bass response in combination with one or more of the following: low supply voltage, high transmit current into a low-Z load, and very high band noise. 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
OK, so now we have heard from a few folks that have this problem. As a soon to be purchaser of a similar set-up, I am quite concerned. What is the solution to this problem ? I read one post about putting the Tuner in Manual mode, but I also read that another user has had the problem in Manual mode. How does one fix this ? 73 es HNY, Dick, W1KSZ On 12/30/2013 11:10 AM, Joe K2UF wrote: I have had a similar thing happen to me also. I have been in a contest on a run freq. and suddenly the KPA500/KAT500 will fault. This is on CW. If I do a 'tune' the amp/tuner will retune and I can continue. Of course in the few seconds it takes I will usually lose the freq. 73, Joe K2UF -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of KD0Q-Glenn Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 9:24 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem I experience this as well, only on 80 meters with the KPA500 in operate. Always thought that it was RF getting into the KAT500 sensing as I can usually back off to 300 Watts, force a KAT500 re-tune and continue. Glenn - KD0Q On 12/30/2013 07:59, Bill W2BLC wrote: This is exactly why I want to see this complete discussion in full view. It is a problem here also - occurring often and without any obvious cause. Putting the tuner in AUTO or in MANUAL does not stop it from happening. The tuner does not seem to understand the term MANUAL. My experience is from 75 meters - with no change in antennas - and will occur on oft used frequencies in the middle of a transmission. The tuner just suddenly decides it is time to make noises. I do not use other bands and the antenna is a dipole that present no problems to other rigs and tuners (read as nothing wrong with the antenna or feedlines, which have all been completely checked). AT the very least, I now know I am not alone with this problem. Thanks, Bill W2BLC K-Line __ 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] FW: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
In regards to proper grounding etc.: I think it is safe to say that K3 owners have a very good grasp of what is needed to construct and operate a proper station - safety and RF wise. I do, yet still went back over every last connector/connection/lug, etc. Everything is locked down properly here. No baluns, good coax, and everything is mechanical and soldered along the entire antenna routes. Yet, the problem continues. Perhaps the most disconcerting part is that my other auto tuners/rigs do not exhibit this difficulty. Perhaps the KAT500 is seeing something the others do not. The difficult part is never knowing when the tuner will take off and the fact that MANUAL selection does not appear to make any difference. I have been using MANUAL for a couple of months. I do not see that it has made any difference in occurrences. The instances of run-away are random and it is usually days between events. Bill W2BLC K-Line __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
It may be not relevant to this particular case but another reason for weird KAT500 behavior can be strong interfering signal of a neighbor or nearby broadcasting station. I did run into situations where such signals induced up to 5 volts into low band antenna. Then KAT500 counts that signal as reflected and thinks that SWR is very high. One may try to connect broadband spectrum analyzer to the antenna and see what is going on. If it is broadcasting signal well below ham bands then high pass filter between the tuner and antenna can help. 73, Igor UA9CDC - Original Message - From: Jeffrey Otterson otterson_nos...@nhrc.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 8:58 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem I, too, have seen this spurious KAT500 retune problem. I'm running a similar setup: K3-KPA500-LP-100A-KAT500-coax-balun-ladder line-hf doublet I'lll be happily working 75M and all of a sudden the KAT500 starts re-tuning, and with the LP-100 alarm going off and the relays chattering in the KAT500, it sounds a bit like all hell breaking loose. I reverted the KAT500 to firmware version 1.32 and the problem *seems* to happen less often... That could be my imagination, though. Also I think that this has happened in MANUAL mode, as well as automatic. Perhaps it would be useful to have an option to only re-tune during the first few seconds of transmit? Jeff __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
Dick - I've had my K-line (K3/P3/KPA500/KAT500) running here for a while on almost all the bands, mostly CW. I have yet to have it act up this way, or any other way, for that matter. I use an 88 foot long doublet at 45 feet for 40-6 meters, and two separate Inverted L antennas for 80 and 160. Single 6 foot long copper clad steel ground rod right outside the shack window. Jim / W6JHB On Monday, Dec 30, 2013, at Monday, 10:15 AM, Richard Solomon wrote: OK, so now we have heard from a few folks that have this problem. As a soon to be purchaser of a similar set-up, I am quite concerned. What is the solution to this problem ? I read one post about putting the Tuner in Manual mode, but I also read that another user has had the problem in Manual mode. How does one fix this ? 73 es HNY, Dick, W1KSZ On 12/30/2013 11:10 AM, Joe K2UF wrote: I have had a similar thing happen to me also. I have been in a contest on a run freq. and suddenly the KPA500/KAT500 will fault. This is on CW. If I do a 'tune' the amp/tuner will retune and I can continue. Of course in the few seconds it takes I will usually lose the freq. 73, Joe K2UF -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of KD0Q-Glenn Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 9:24 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem I experience this as well, only on 80 meters with the KPA500 in operate. Always thought that it was RF getting into the KAT500 sensing as I can usually back off to 300 Watts, force a KAT500 re-tune and continue. Glenn - KD0Q On 12/30/2013 07:59, Bill W2BLC wrote: This is exactly why I want to see this complete discussion in full view. It is a problem here also - occurring often and without any obvious cause. Putting the tuner in AUTO or in MANUAL does not stop it from happening. The tuner does not seem to understand the term MANUAL. My experience is from 75 meters - with no change in antennas - and will occur on oft used frequencies in the middle of a transmission. The tuner just suddenly decides it is time to make noises. I do not use other bands and the antenna is a dipole that present no problems to other rigs and tuners (read as nothing wrong with the antenna or feedlines, which have all been completely checked). AT the very least, I now know I am not alone with this problem. Thanks, Bill W2BLC K-Line __ 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 __ 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] KXPA Utility for Mac Linux, KXPA100 Serial Command Reference available
KXPA Utilities for Mac and Linux are now available from our KXPA100 software web page, http://www.elecraft.com/KXPA100/KXPA100_software.htm The KXPA100 Serial Command (programming) reference is now available on our Manuals page: http://www.elecraft.com/K2_Manual_Download_Page.htm#KXPA100 You may need to refresh your browser's cache to see the current version of each of these recently changed pages. 73 de Dick, K6KR __ 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 Software Updates
I'm just wondering id Elecraft plans to have any software updates for the K3 in 2014 ? 73 de N4LA / ToddDenton, NC __ 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 Software Updates
Yes. Wayne On Dec 30, 2013, at 11:06 AM, Todd Brady n...@live.com wrote: I'm just wondering id Elecraft plans to have any software updates for the K3 in 2014 ? 73 de N4LA / ToddDenton, NC __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
Forgot to mention that I hauled my MFJ wattmeter/dummy load out to the bush and pushed up 100 watts into it down the feeder with 1:1 SWR, which convinced me that at least my UR8 feeder is OK. Also didn't mention I hooked up my FG01 antenna analyser up at the shack and all seemed normal, but of course the problem only comes over 40 watts (which equates to a pre balun 500V). THE PROBLEM REMAINS and I am still mystified! 73 Sent from my iPhone Ray Coles CEng M0XDL 10 Littlemoor Road, Weymouth DT3 6AA United Kingdom __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem
I have also experienced the FAULT LED coming on with indication of high SWR during a SSB transmission on 75 meters. It corrects itself if I continue talking, but it is annoying. I have firmware 1.42 loaded in the KAT500. Roy Morris W4WFB __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem
I just experienced that problem today. I was on 12 meters phone and after a couple of words the HI SWR light came on and the KPA shut down. I put it on Standby and put my K3 in CW mode. When I hit the key the SWR on my K3 had only one bar. Then I went to tune position on the KAT and tapped my key and there was all sorts of clicking and the swr bar on the K3 went nuts for a few moments. Then the clicking stopped and the swr was back to one bar and everything worked fine after that. I have no idea what is going on. Nelson, K8DJC __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
UHF connectors are rated for 500V. Maybe you need N connectors, which can handle 1500V. wunder K6WRU On Dec 30, 2013, at 11:13 AM, Ray Coles raycole...@gmail.com wrote: Forgot to mention that I hauled my MFJ wattmeter/dummy load out to the bush and pushed up 100 watts into it down the feeder with 1:1 SWR, which convinced me that at least my UR8 feeder is OK. Also didn't mention I hooked up my FG01 antenna analyser up at the shack and all seemed normal, but of course the problem only comes over 40 watts (which equates to a pre balun 500V). THE PROBLEM REMAINS and I am still mystified! 73 Sent from my iPhone Ray Coles CEng M0XDL 10 Littlemoor Road, Weymouth DT3 6AA United Kingdom __ 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] FW: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
Do you have coomon mode chokes on you feed lines? Jim ab3cv On Dec 30, 2013, at 1:29 PM, Bill W2BLC w2...@nycap.rr.com wrote: In regards to proper grounding etc.: I think it is safe to say that K3 owners have a very good grasp of what is needed to construct and operate a proper station - safety and RF wise. I do, yet still went back over every last connector/connection/lug, etc. Everything is locked down properly here. No baluns, good coax, and everything is mechanical and soldered along the entire antenna routes. Yet, the problem continues. Perhaps the most disconcerting part is that my other auto tuners/rigs do not exhibit this difficulty. Perhaps the KAT500 is seeing something the others do not. The difficult part is never knowing when the tuner will take off and the fact that MANUAL selection does not appear to make any difference. I have been using MANUAL for a couple of months. I do not see that it has made any difference in occurrences. The instances of run-away are random and it is usually days between events. Bill W2BLC K-Line __ 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] KX3 Headphone Clicks
Just spent an hour or so working with Howard and Wayne at Elecraft trying to nail this down. I tried various things, including adjusting the lower three audio equalization bands, using a lower NR setting, setting the receive bandwidth to 100-300 Hz, setting NB on at a low setting, and using a non-zero QSK delay. In my situation, there was but one thing that just about completely eliminated this clicking: turning OFF the NR. With it turned on, at level 1, the clicking was ugly. Increasing it up to 9 or 10 helped a little, but lowered receive volume too much. Turning NR off stopped my clicks. This may or may not help with YOUR particular rig's key click problems, but it fixed mine until they have a firmware resolution. Thanks to the guys at Elecraft for their continued excellent support!! Happy New Year to all, and may 2014 bring you the goodies on your wish list. (I already got mine - KX3, KPA500, KAT500), so I'm pretty much outta luck this coming year!!! :-) 73, Jim / W6JHB Folsom, CA On Monday, Dec 30, 2013, at Monday, 12:53 AM, Hjalmar Duklæt wrote: Yes, this is a known issue. Try to turn down the AF gain when keying. That will make it much better. 73 de Hal la43xx On 13-12-30, Klaus Koppendorfer k...@ccf.net wrote: that is what we had several times told to elecraft, qsk on kx3 is bad, you can read this also at bob sherwood Von: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] im Auftrag von Jim Bennett [w6...@mac.com] Gesendet: Montag, 30. Dezember 2013 01:26 An: Elecraft Reflector Reflector Betreff: [Elecraft] KX3 Headphone Clicks Hi All - just this past weekend completed building KX3 # 5539. Seems to work fine except for one thing. When I've got headphones plugged in and running full break-in I'm hearing a fairly strong clicking noise. I set the rig into semi-QSK with a 1-second DLY and see that the click is happening when the radio goes back into receive, NOT when I key it and send RF out into the ozone. Any idea what's happening here? I've tried it with three different sets of 'phones: A Sony MDR-V6, a Bose Triport, and an el-cheapo pair of 'round-the-ear phones that I use with my iPhone at the gym. I hear the same click on all three. I then unplugged the 'phones and listened to the built-in speaker with DLY at zero. The clicks are there, too. Very annoying. Any hints?? Jim / W6JHB __ 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] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
Interesting as I had a similar problem with my unit on 160m this weekend. Turned out as I went higher in power I was burning thru an insulator on my vertical. Thus my problem occurred at higher power until my insulator was totally gone. Then it was easy to find. I suspect that that something has arced and now there is a shorting path that shows up as you go up in power and the KAT500 finds it. Note I do not use a KPA500 but a different type of amp. I also was able to watch the swr climb slowly with my W2 as it was slowly starting the destruction cycle but with lower power the swr was steady. However after the damage was complete even my antenna analyzer showed the problem. It took me a bit of time to find the damage before I finally had it nailed down. So even though stuff visually looks good and is fine at lower power the coax could be damaged internally and you are not finding it with the dummy load as it does not react the same as the antenna because the swr is good. Just a thought. ~73 Don KD8NNU -.- -.. ---.. -. -. ..- -Original Message- From: Ray Coles Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 2:13 PM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem Forgot to mention that I hauled my MFJ wattmeter/dummy load out to the bush and pushed up 100 watts into it down the feeder with 1:1 SWR, which convinced me that at least my UR8 feeder is OK. Also didn't mention I hooked up my FG01 antenna analyser up at the shack and all seemed normal, but of course the problem only comes over 40 watts (which equates to a pre balun 500V). THE PROBLEM REMAINS and I am still mystified! 73 Sent from my iPhone Ray Coles CEng M0XDL 10 Littlemoor Road, Weymouth DT3 6AA United Kingdom __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
They are on all of MY various HF antennas: doublet, Inverted L's, and a ground mounted vertical. On Monday, Dec 30, 2013, at Monday, 11:54 AM, Jim Miller wrote: Do you have coomon mode chokes on you feed lines? Jim ab3cv On Dec 30, 2013, at 1:29 PM, Bill W2BLC w2...@nycap.rr.com wrote: In regards to proper grounding etc.: I think it is safe to say that K3 owners have a very good grasp of what is needed to construct and operate a proper station - safety and RF wise. I do, yet still went back over every last connector/connection/lug, etc. Everything is locked down properly here. No baluns, good coax, and everything is mechanical and soldered along the entire antenna routes. Yet, the problem continues. Perhaps the most disconcerting part is that my other auto tuners/rigs do not exhibit this difficulty. Perhaps the KAT500 is seeing something the others do not. The difficult part is never knowing when the tuner will take off and the fact that MANUAL selection does not appear to make any difference. I have been using MANUAL for a couple of months. I do not see that it has made any difference in occurrences. The instances of run-away are random and it is usually days between events. Bill W2BLC K-Line __ 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] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
That’s actually not a valid test. Try it at 500 watts and see what happens. We get away with many things at low power that show up as real problems when the power is increased. Bad connections, coax and components that are not rated for higher power (baluns tend to be a big one here), and sometime antenna parts that are just too close to their surroundings. Watch for include tight bends in the coax (especially in warm climates). As antennas age, things tend to change, components age and start to break down. Remember, with a non-resonant antenna you can have very high mismatches, shown as high SWR, which results in high voltages and currents in the feed line going back to the tuner. At high power this will age the feed line and components very fast, causing breakdowns. Instead of small coax, try using large stuff, of the RG-8 size (only better). It will still see the high voltages, but is better suited to handle them. Perhaps a better solution is to use open-wire feedline from the antenna to a point very close to the shack (or inside), then use ashore coax feed and balun between the ATU and feedline. This should work much better, since the open-wire feed is better suited for handling high SWR with very low loss. Jack Brindle, W6FB On Dec 30, 2013, at 11:13 AM, Ray Coles raycole...@gmail.com wrote: Forgot to mention that I hauled my MFJ wattmeter/dummy load out to the bush and pushed up 100 watts into it down the feeder with 1:1 SWR, which convinced me that at least my UR8 feeder is OK. Also didn't mention I hooked up my FG01 antenna analyser up at the shack and all seemed normal, but of course the problem only comes over 40 watts (which equates to a pre balun 500V). THE PROBLEM REMAINS and I am still mystified! 73 Sent from my iPhone Ray Coles CEng M0XDL 10 Littlemoor Road, Weymouth DT3 6AA United Kingdom __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem
We now have a senior project engineer assigned to overall K3/KPA500/KAT500 operational issues. Improvements to firmware and documentation will result, including a new manual specifically covering setup of the full K-Line. Those of you who have reported problems will be contacted to make sure we have all of the details. We may even be duplicating one or two antennas to investigate whether antenna configuration, feedline, etc., could be a contributing factor. However, in many cases the resolution involves menu settings or system installation changes, and the new manual will address them. Our goal is to make setup and operation as smooth as possible. Thanks for your patience. 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
Ray, Is that 500 volts RMS or 500 volts peak? Coax, connectors, baluns, insulators, etc. are usually rated for the peak voltage they will tolerate without breakdown. If you calculated that voltage derived from the power and Ohm's Law, you would have Volts RMS and you may have something breaking down due to excessive voltage (and that create problems like you are seeing). 73, Don W3FPR On 12/30/2013 2:44 PM, Walter Underwood wrote: UHF connectors are rated for 500V. Maybe you need N connectors, which can handle 1500V. wunder K6WRU On Dec 30, 2013, at 11:13 AM, Ray Coles raycole...@gmail.com wrote: Forgot to mention that I hauled my MFJ wattmeter/dummy load out to the bush and pushed up 100 watts into it down the feeder with 1:1 SWR, which convinced me that at least my UR8 feeder is OK. Also didn't mention I hooked up my FG01 antenna analyser up at the shack and all seemed normal, but of course the problem only comes over 40 watts (which equates to a pre balun 500V). THE PROBLEM REMAINS and I am still mystified! 73 Sent from my iPhone Ray Coles CEng M0XDL 10 Littlemoor Road, Weymouth DT3 6AA United Kingdom __ 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 __ 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] FW: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
Everything in the shack is grounded to an aluminum bus bar across the back of the operating table which is tied with #6 solid copper to the same point as the tower and AC Main grounds. Just for reference, the antenna is a 260ft OCF Inverted Vee at 75 ft using a Balun Designs #4115ocf 4:1/Choke combination balun. Coax shield is grounded at the top and bottom of the tower. Glenn - KD0Q On 12/30/2013 13:54, Jim Miller wrote: Do you have coomon mode chokes on you feed lines? Jim ab3cv On Dec 30, 2013, at 1:29 PM, Bill W2BLC w2...@nycap.rr.com wrote: In regards to proper grounding etc.: I think it is safe to say that K3 owners have a very good grasp of what is needed to construct and operate a proper station - safety and RF wise. I do, yet still went back over every last connector/connection/lug, etc. Everything is locked down properly here. No baluns, good coax, and everything is mechanical and soldered along the entire antenna routes. Yet, the problem continues. Perhaps the most disconcerting part is that my other auto tuners/rigs do not exhibit this difficulty. Perhaps the KAT500 is seeing something the others do not. The difficult part is never knowing when the tuner will take off and the fact that MANUAL selection does not appear to make any difference. I have been using MANUAL for a couple of months. I do not see that it has made any difference in occurrences. The instances of run-away are random and it is usually days between events. Bill W2BLC K-Line __ 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] FW: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
Hmmm, An aluminum bar tied to a copper wire! Be aware that there will be oxidation at the junction point due to dissimilar metals unless special bonding is used to slow (but not stop) the oxidation. Just something to bear in mind. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/30/2013 3:23 PM, KD0Q-Glenn wrote: Everything in the shack is grounded to an aluminum bus bar across the back of the operating table which is tied with #6 solid copper to the same point as the tower and AC Main grounds. Just for reference, the antenna is a 260ft OCF Inverted Vee at 75 ft using a Balun Designs #4115ocf 4:1/Choke combination balun. Coax shield is grounded at the top and bottom of the tower. __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem
Hi Its good to hear about all of these issues. I have the same issue as the last post. I went through a new set of cables, new kat500 board, and tons of trouble shooting with Elecraft. Happens the same on two completely different antennas each with completely different feedlines. The solution is not there yet. There is perhaps an issue with hardware updates on the kpa500. I have an early unit that is about 2years old. I haven't yet decided if I will send it in or live with it. In my case it happens on many bands and every time I switch to a new frequency even though the kat had already tuned there. Tom Original message From: Roy Morris w4...@carolina.rr.com Date: 30/12/2013 14:18 (GMT-05:00) To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem I have also experienced the FAULT LED coming on with indication of high SWR during a SSB transmission on 75 meters. It corrects itself if I continue talking, but it is annoying. I have firmware 1.42 loaded in the KAT500. Roy Morris W4WFB __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
I saw the problem when operating a Multi-op contesting and the 80M OP was running 1.5kw and the RF is induced into the 160M Phased inverted L array and the combination of induced energy and the SWR reflected power on the array kick the KAT500 back into a retune mode. So, either local energy on Broadcast energy will both make this happen. I now have built coaxial Stubs and look forward to seeing if this solves my Local energy problem. 73 Bill W4RM -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Igor Sokolov Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 1:28 PM To: Jeffrey Otterson; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem It may be not relevant to this particular case but another reason for weird KAT500 behavior can be strong interfering signal of a neighbor or nearby broadcasting station. I did run into situations where such signals induced up to 5 volts into low band antenna. Then KAT500 counts that signal as reflected and thinks that SWR is very high. One may try to connect broadband spectrum analyzer to the antenna and see what is going on. If it is broadcasting signal well below ham bands then high pass filter between the tuner and antenna can help. 73, Igor UA9CDC - Original Message - From: Jeffrey Otterson otterson_nos...@nhrc.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 8:58 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem I, too, have seen this spurious KAT500 retune problem. I'm running a similar setup: K3-KPA500-LP-100A-KAT500-coax-balun-ladder line-hf doublet I'lll be happily working 75M and all of a sudden the KAT500 starts re-tuning, and with the LP-100 alarm going off and the relays chattering in the KAT500, it sounds a bit like all hell breaking loose. I reverted the KAT500 to firmware version 1.32 and the problem *seems* to happen less often... That could be my imagination, though. Also I think that this has happened in MANUAL mode, as well as automatic. Perhaps it would be useful to have an option to only re-tune during the first few seconds of transmit? Jeff __ 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] FW: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
Good point Don! That's why I use stainless steel hardware and ICE 602 copper/aluminum anti-oxidant paste. Glenn - KD0Q On 12/30/2013 14:29, Don Wilhelm wrote: Hmmm, An aluminum bar tied to a copper wire! Be aware that there will be oxidation at the junction point due to dissimilar metals unless special bonding is used to slow (but not stop) the oxidation. Just something to bear in mind. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/30/2013 3:23 PM, KD0Q-Glenn wrote: Everything in the shack is grounded to an aluminum bus bar across the back of the operating table which is tied with #6 solid copper to the same point as the tower and AC Main grounds. Just for reference, the antenna is a 260ft OCF Inverted Vee at 75 ft using a Balun Designs #4115ocf 4:1/Choke combination balun. Coax shield is grounded at the top and bottom of the tower. __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
I had a similar issue. Drove me crazy. Then one day I put my hand on the PL259 on my antenna switch and noticed it was warm. Swapped out the 90 degree connector on the coax and problem solved. The high power from the amp must have been causing a fault in the connector. Lesson 1. Check all your connections. Lesson 2. Stop buying cheap coax connectors Buck k4ia On 12/30/2013 2:13 PM, Ray Coles wrote: Forgot to mention that I hauled my MFJ wattmeter/dummy load out to the bush and pushed up 100 watts into it down the feeder with 1:1 SWR, which convinced me that at least my UR8 feeder is OK. Also didn't mention I hooked up my FG01 antenna analyser up at the shack and all seemed normal, but of course the problem only comes over 40 watts (which equates to a pre balun 500V). THE PROBLEM REMAINS and I am still mystified! 73 Sent from my iPhone Ray Coles CEng M0XDL 10 Littlemoor Road, Weymouth DT3 6AA United Kingdom __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem
Thanks Wayne, We all knew that selecting the Elecraft line was the best choice we could make and you just once again, demonstrated that. I have the same problem with 3933kc into a windom up 50'. I found that by turning off everything and then back on, the KAT500 would whirl and clatter, but would find a happy place out there on the wire. It has also happen on 20m using a Telex 7 element beam. Best regards, Jerry, W1IE -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 20:17 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem We now have a senior project engineer assigned to overall K3/KPA500/KAT500 operational issues. Improvements to firmware and documentation will result, including a new manual specifically covering setup of the full K-Line. Those of you who have reported problems will be contacted to make sure we have all of the details. We may even be duplicating one or two antennas to investigate whether antenna configuration, feedline, etc., could be a contributing factor. However, in many cases the resolution involves menu settings or system installation changes, and the new manual will address them. Our goal is to make setup and operation as smooth as possible. Thanks for your patience. 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] KX3 Headphone Clicks
You are right. It doesn't help me. For me it all comes down to how much background noise there is. So for me it helps both with NR and NB as they both reduce the noise. When the QRN/QRM is above S6 I have to turn the AF gain down to 1. I still can here the signals, so for me it's no big problem. But I hope to get rid of it all in a future F/W version.73 de Hal la4xx On 13-12-30, Jim Bennett w6...@mac.com wrote: Just spent an hour or so working with Howard and Wayne at Elecraft trying to nail this down. I tried various things, including adjusting the lower three audio equalization bands, using a lower NR setting, setting the receive bandwidth to 100-300 Hz, setting NB on at a low setting, and using a non-zero QSK delay. In my situation, there was but one thing that just about completely eliminated this clicking: turning OFF the NR. With it turned on, at level 1, the clicking was ugly. Increasing it up to 9 or 10 helped a little, but lowered receive volume too much. Turning NR off stopped my clicks. This may or may not help with YOUR particular rig's key click problems, but it fixed mine until they have a firmware resolution. Thanks to the guys at Elecraft for their continued excellent support!! Happy New Year to all, and may 2014 bring you the goodies on your wish list. (I already got mine - KX3, KPA500, KAT500), so I'm pretty much outta luck this coming year!!! :-) 73, Jim / W6JHB Folsom, CA On Monday, Dec 30, 2013, at Monday, 12:53 AM, Hjalmar Duklæt wrote: Yes, this is a known issue. Try to turn down the AF gain when keying. That will make it much better. 73 de Hal la43xx On 13-12-30, Klaus Koppendorfer k...@ccf.net wrote: that is what we had several times told to elecraft, qsk on kx3 is bad, you can read this also at bob sherwood Von: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] im Auftrag von Jim Bennett [w6...@mac.com] Gesendet: Montag, 30. Dezember 2013 01:26 An: Elecraft Reflector Reflector Betreff: [Elecraft] KX3 Headphone Clicks Hi All - just this past weekend completed building KX3 # 5539. Seems to work fine except for one thing. When I've got headphones plugged in and running full break-in I'm hearing a fairly strong clicking noise. I set the rig into semi-QSK with a 1-second DLY and see that the click is happening when the radio goes back into receive, NOT when I key it and send RF out into the ozone. Any idea what's happening here? I've tried it with three different sets of 'phones: A Sony MDR-V6, a Bose Triport, and an el-cheapo pair of 'round-the-ear phones that I use with my iPhone at the gym. I hear the same click on all three. I then unplugged the 'phones and listened to the built-in speaker with DLY at zero. The clicks are there, too. Very annoying. Any hints?? Jim / W6JHB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@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 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 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] [KX3] SDR transmitter issues?
On Mon, Dec 30, 2013 at 10:01 AM, Fred Smith m...@totalhighspeed.comwrote: ...have considered a 1500.. == If you operate CW, you won't like it. Get a KX3. Tony KT0NY __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem
On 12/30/2013 12:17 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: We now have a senior project engineer assigned to overall K3/KPA500/KAT500 operational issues. Improvements to firmware and documentation will result, including a new manual specifically covering setup of the full K-Line. WAYNE: FWIW: I'm running FW Ver 1.32 and have been since I got the KAT500. I run a tribander at 70' about 150' from the shack, a ladder-line fed sloping-V [~180' on each leg] with a DXE balun at the tower base [9913 to the shack], and a roof-mounted GAP Titan about 12' above my head. I've never had this problem being discussed although 500W into the GAP on 15m sure does annoy the WinKeyUSB. :-) ALL: I took an afternoon right after getting the KAT500 and trained it on every segment of every band using all the antennas that work on each band [it did take most of the afternoon]. I then disabled the antennas that don't work on each band using the KAT500 Utility, and put the KAT500 into MANUAL. I haven't taken it out of MANUAL since and I can't remember the last time it wanted to auto-tune. A QSY to any band and a single DIT and it's tuned. On bands with two operable antennas, it selects the primary one. Tapping the ANT button will select the secondary, tapping again goes back to the primary. It's pretty slick. As a test, those with the problem might reload 1.32 and see what happens. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
On 12/30/2013 12:48 PM, Buck - k4ia wrote: I had a similar issue. Drove me crazy. Then one day I put my hand on the PL259 on my antenna switch and noticed it was warm. Swapped out the 90 degree connector on the coax and problem solved. The high power from the amp must have been causing a fault in the connector. Lesson 1. Check all your connections. Lesson 2. Stop buying cheap coax connectors Yep. The only ones I've been using are Amphenol with the silver plating. The solder well, and I've had no problems since I gave up on the offshore ones at RS. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - www.cqp.org The problem with Lessons Learned is that they rarely are. Leo Endres, philosopher/engineer/colleague __ 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] K-Line Project
In telephone conversation with Wayne today, I learned that he is setting up a K-Line project to support customer needs for additional documentation and possibly some firmware updates to better integrate the K-line equipment. That will include the K-line manual that David has proposed. David sent me two documents outlining his wishes about a month ago. Wayne asked me to post them when he launches an e-mail list for the project unless David has updates. I understand that Dick will manage K-Line project. I'm presently focused on wrapping up the KXPA100 manuals before I leave for the U.K. Jan 7 through Feb 15. I'm visiting a number of cities on business so I'm not sure about my schedule, but will keep in touch when I can. Open issues on the KXPA100 documentation I am aware of includes: 1) Adding the Icom interface information including cable to the KXPA100 manual. Awaiting information from WV about that before proceeding (this will also fill in the two missing RJ45 pins that David couldn't find documented in the current rev of the manual). 2) Making any updates/changes needed to the KXPA100 Kit Assembly manual. I have not seen any feedback nor any information about a KXPA100 FT list where I might monitor customer comments. 3) Completing one additional manual for the KXPA100 product: Installation instructions for adding the KXAT100 to an existing built KXPA100 for those who buy the ATU option later. Ropn __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
FWIW, Although I don't have the KAT500, I have found my KPA500 to be very, very sensitive to rf on the feedline, especially on 80 and 40 meters. I have checked, rechecked everything (connectors, feedline, switches, etc.) and tried adding various common mode filters, changing feedline length, etc. over a period of 2 years now and still have not resolved the issue. I disassembled my KPA500 and checked all the chassis grounds, making sure all was tight and no paint was interfering with the rf integrity of the case. That did produce some improvement, but the problem persists. In my case, the random swr spike and (occasional) resulting fault always occur during the first microseconds of a transmission. Though Elecraft support has worked with me to try to resolve this issue, so far it has no yielded to our efforts. This does not occur when I transmit into a dummy load, either in the shack or at the tower. Though my experience isn't the same as is being discussed here, I suspect the root cause may be similar. Bob K5SM __ 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] FW: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
I came to the same conclusion and built filters to clear this up too... but then... I'm down on PJ4 for holiday the past two weeks operating for fun with a portable 3 element beam (20-6) and dipoles for 80 and 40. On Saturday night I was on 40 meters with the amp running at probably 1.4:1 SWR on CW, saw the tuner go into manual mode and saw a good sized thick cloud of black smoke emit from the KPA500. I quickly shut the amp off... but used it fine the following nights on 20 meters and 18 meters. Thought it might be because I don't have a really good station ground, but can't prove that. Guess I'll take the amp apart when I get back to see what's burned up. Until then I'll just keep using it... but not on 40 and 80 meters. Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ / J68HZ/ 8P6HK/ ZF2HZ Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch Staunton, Illinois email: b...@wjschmidt.com -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bill OMara Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 4:40 PM To: 'Igor Sokolov'; 'Jeffrey Otterson'; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem I saw the problem when operating a Multi-op contesting and the 80M OP was running 1.5kw and the RF is induced into the 160M Phased inverted L array and the combination of induced energy and the SWR reflected power on the array kick the KAT500 back into a retune mode. So, either local energy on Broadcast energy will both make this happen. I now have built coaxial Stubs and look forward to seeing if this solves my Local energy problem. 73 Bill W4RM __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem
Hi Fred et al, I think CW operators have not had the same level of problems as SSB operators, unless they are using high speed CW. The tuner seems to get all the information it needs in about a dits worth of RF. But I think it has to be pretty constant RF and the varying SSB waveform may be causing the problem. I think training (using a steady CW carrier) and then operating in MAN mode is the key, given there aren't other things going on such as RF that others have suggested. One other thing I might suggest for SSB operators is to set up the K3 to allow CW in SSB mode (K3 CONFIG:CW WGHT, tap 1 for SSB +CW). Then when changing bands tap your key (you do have a key, don't you) and you'll tune right up on the band. Cheers and Happy New Year everybody. Fred KE7X Fred Cady fcady at ieee dot org WAYNE: FWIW: I'm running FW Ver 1.32 and have been since I got the KAT500. I run a tribander at 70' about 150' from the shack, a ladder-line fed sloping-V [~180' on each leg] with a DXE balun at the tower base [9913 to the shack], and a roof-mounted GAP Titan about 12' above my head. I've never had this problem being discussed although 500W into the GAP on 15m sure does annoy the WinKeyUSB. :-) ALL: I took an afternoon right after getting the KAT500 and trained it on every segment of every band using all the antennas that work on each band [it did take most of the afternoon]. I then disabled the antennas that don't work on each band using the KAT500 Utility, and put the KAT500 into MANUAL. I haven't taken it out of MANUAL since and I can't remember the last time it wanted to auto-tune. A QSY to any band and a single DIT and it's tuned. On bands with two operable antennas, it selects the primary one. Tapping the ANT button will select the secondary, tapping again goes back to the primary. It's pretty slick. As a test, those with the problem might reload 1.32 and see what happens. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - 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] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
We believe this situation can be remediated in firmware. We're gathering information and digging into it. 73, Wayne N6kR On Dec 30, 2013, at 1:42 PM, Robert Redmon k5sm@gmail.com wrote: FWIW, Although I don't have the KAT500, I have found my KPA500 to be very, very sensitive to rf on the feedline, especially on 80 and 40 meters. I have checked, rechecked everything (connectors, feedline, switches, etc.) and tried adding various common mode filters, changing feedline length, etc. over a period of 2 years now and still have not resolved the issue. I disassembled my KPA500 and checked all the chassis grounds, making sure all was tight and no paint was interfering with the rf integrity of the case. That did produce some improvement, but the problem persists. In my case, the random swr spike and (occasional) resulting fault always occur during the first microseconds of a transmission. Though Elecraft support has worked with me to try to resolve this issue, so far it has no yielded to our efforts. This does not occur when I transmit into a dummy load, either in the shack or at the tower. Though my experience isn't the same as is being discussed here, I suspect the root cause may be similar. Bob K5SM __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
Things like that will show up at medium to higher power levels even though all looks well at lower power. Common mode RF voltage getting into the shack will also cause similar behavior. Ninety percent of those type problems are solved in the antenna field - tight good quality connections, good coax and adequate common mode chokes installed at the right places will usually fix it. Note also that a good ground system in the shack is usually *not* a good RF Ground and thinking it to be an RF ground will lead to a lot of confusion and false moves. For instance, an RF Ground (point of zero RF voltage crossing) is found at the center of a dipole's center insulator or between the base of a vertical and a ground plane. The job of a current choke (or balun) is to constrain the feedline to equal and opposite currents between the conductors so the RF ground point as well as RF voltage sources stay where they belong. I digress, but a ground rod does not make an RF Ground no matter how it is connected. It may actually be a high impedance for RF - consider a wire to that ground rod of 8 feet - that will have a high impedance on 10 meters just because it is a 1/4 wavelength connected to earth (a low impedance point). 73, Don W3FPR On 12/30/2013 3:48 PM, Buck - k4ia wrote: I had a similar issue. Drove me crazy. Then one day I put my hand on the PL259 on my antenna switch and noticed it was warm. Swapped out the 90 degree connector on the coax and problem solved. The high power from the amp must have been causing a fault in the connector. Lesson 1. Check all your connections. Lesson 2. Stop buying cheap coax connectors Buck k4ia __ 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] K-Line Project
My apologies for the bandwidth everyone. That was obviously an internal memo. I was sabotaged by auto-complete in the e-mail addressing. Ron AC7AC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem
My K-line is all connected via the Elecraft 15-pin Network. If I remember correctly, it's: computer--P3--K3--KAT500--KPA500 or something like that. I was under the impression that the KAT500 already knows what frequency I'm about to transmit on and is ready for me, even before it senses RF? 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - www.cqp.org On 12/30/2013 1:45 PM, Cady, Fred wrote: Hi Fred et al, I think CW operators have not had the same level of problems as SSB operators, unless they are using high speed CW. The tuner seems to get all the information it needs in about a dits worth of RF. But I think it has to be pretty constant RF and the varying SSB waveform may be causing the problem. I think training (using a steady CW carrier) and then operating in MAN mode is the key, given there aren't other things going on such as RF that others have suggested. __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
Good points, Don. As a KAT500 FT'er, I used an extensive external grounding system. I also use a large loop, a 75 dipole and multi band shortened dipole as well. Generally I have little to no issues. One can get by while on QRP, with significant losses on improperly installed antenna systems, but once the power goes, esp., QRO, the problems are amplified (pun intended)! I am also very careful when making a large frequency excursion to start a lowered power tune, despite memory tuning, just to give a lower power tune rather than full power. 73, Bill K9YEQ -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 4:26 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem Things like that will show up at medium to higher power levels even though all looks well at lower power. Common mode RF voltage getting into the shack will also cause similar behavior. Ninety percent of those type problems are solved in the antenna field - tight good quality connections, good coax and adequate common mode chokes installed at the right places will usually fix it. Note also that a good ground system in the shack is usually *not* a good RF Ground and thinking it to be an RF ground will lead to a lot of confusion and false moves. For instance, an RF Ground (point of zero RF voltage crossing) is found at the center of a dipole's center insulator or between the base of a vertical and a ground plane. The job of a current choke (or balun) is to constrain the feedline to equal and opposite currents between the conductors so the RF ground point as well as RF voltage sources stay where they belong. I digress, but a ground rod does not make an RF Ground no matter how it is connected. It may actually be a high impedance for RF - consider a wire to that ground rod of 8 feet - that will have a high impedance on 10 meters just because it is a 1/4 wavelength connected to earth (a low impedance point). 73, Don W3FPR On 12/30/2013 3:48 PM, Buck - k4ia wrote: I had a similar issue. Drove me crazy. Then one day I put my hand on the PL259 on my antenna switch and noticed it was warm. Swapped out the 90 degree connector on the coax and problem solved. The high power from the amp must have been causing a fault in the connector. Lesson 1. Check all your connections. Lesson 2. Stop buying cheap coax connectors Buck k4ia __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem
With the 15-pin network (I like it!), the KAT500 knows the band and selects the last used antenna and L-C for that band. It doesn't know the frequency until you transmit when it can select the ant and L-C from the segment memory (which could be different than the last used on the band, if you were on the bottom of the band and come back on and transmit on the top of the band). -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 3:58 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem My K-line is all connected via the Elecraft 15-pin Network. If I remember correctly, it's: computer--P3--K3--KAT500--KPA500 or something like that. I was under the impression that the KAT500 already knows what frequency I'm about to transmit on and is ready for me, even before it senses RF? 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - www.cqp.org On 12/30/2013 1:45 PM, Cady, Fred wrote: Hi Fred et al, I think CW operators have not had the same level of problems as SSB operators, unless they are using high speed CW. The tuner seems to get all the information it needs in about a dits worth of RF. But I think it has to be pretty constant RF and the varying SSB waveform may be causing the problem. I think training (using a steady CW carrier) and then operating in MAN mode is the key, given there aren't other things going on such as RF that others have suggested. __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
let us not forget that dissimilar metal is making a thermal couple junction point and inducing a voltage on the line also. 73, Michael - N8NOC K1-4 #3046 K3/10 #6596 KX3#1573 On Dec 30, 2013, at 3:29 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Hmmm, An aluminum bar tied to a copper wire! Be aware that there will be oxidation at the junction point due to dissimilar metals unless special bonding is used to slow (but not stop) the oxidation. Just something to bear in mind. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/30/2013 3:23 PM, KD0Q-Glenn wrote: Everything in the shack is grounded to an aluminum bus bar across the back of the operating table which is tied with #6 solid copper to the same point as the tower and AC Main grounds. Just for reference, the antenna is a 260ft OCF Inverted Vee at 75 ft using a Balun Designs #4115ocf 4:1/Choke combination balun. Coax shield is grounded at the top and bottom of the tower. __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem
At present the KAT500 gets only band number, not VFO frequency, from the K3. We're looking at possible firmware changes that would give the KAT500 VFO info or otherwise prepare it better for the next transmission at the new in-band frequency. Details later. Wayne N6KR On Dec 30, 2013, at 4:15 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: With the 15-pin network (I like it!), the KAT500 knows the band and selects the last used antenna and L-C for that band. It doesn't know the frequency until you transmit when it can select the ant and L-C from the segment memory (which could be different than the last used on the band, if you were on the bottom of the band and come back on and transmit on the top of the band). -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 3:58 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem My K-line is all connected via the Elecraft 15-pin Network. If I remember correctly, it's: computer--P3--K3--KAT500--KPA500 or something like that. I was under the impression that the KAT500 already knows what frequency I'm about to transmit on and is ready for me, even before it senses RF? 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - www.cqp.org On 12/30/2013 1:45 PM, Cady, Fred wrote: Hi Fred et al, I think CW operators have not had the same level of problems as SSB operators, unless they are using high speed CW. The tuner seems to get all the information it needs in about a dits worth of RF. But I think it has to be pretty constant RF and the varying SSB waveform may be causing the problem. I think training (using a steady CW carrier) and then operating in MAN mode is the key, given there aren't other things going on such as RF that others have suggested. __ 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] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
There is a lot of mention regarding common mode chokes, RF grounding, copper to aluminum connections, etc. Speaking only of my station, I experienced no similar automatic tuner problems with equipment other than the KAT500. I suspect other ops have similar experiences. My typical experience using the tuner is QSY - a two second TUNE - and the KAT knows where and what to do. Everything is just fine - until in the middle of the QSO the tuner goes berserk and does a retune (a little noisy). If I talk through it - all will go back to normal in a few seconds. Disconcerting to say the least. I do not know if this problem is damaging to the KAP500 and/or the KPA500. Hence, I am back to running 100 Watts until this is corrected - changing some coax connections and using the K3's internal tuner. Thus removing the devices from the lineup. __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
This is correctable in firmware (we're looking into how best to achieve that). It is extremely unlikely any damage would occur. Both the KAT500 and KPA500 monitor a half-dozen parameters and go into bypass immediately if operation is unsafe. Wayne N6KR On Dec 30, 2013, at 4:38 PM, Bill W2BLC w2...@nycap.rr.com wrote: There is a lot of mention regarding common mode chokes, RF grounding, copper to aluminum connections, etc. Speaking only of my station, I experienced no similar automatic tuner problems with equipment other than the KAT500. I suspect other ops have similar experiences. My typical experience using the tuner is QSY - a two second TUNE - and the KAT knows where and what to do. Everything is just fine - until in the middle of the QSO the tuner goes berserk and does a retune (a little noisy). If I talk through it - all will go back to normal in a few seconds. Disconcerting to say the least. I do not know if this problem is damaging to the KAP500 and/or the KPA500. Hence, I am back to running 100 Watts until this is corrected - changing some coax connections and using the K3's internal tuner. Thus removing the devices from the lineup. __ 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] KXPA100 Kit Assembly Manual on web site
We've just uploaded the KXPA100 kit manual .pdf to the web site. See: http://www.elecraft.com/K2_Manual_Download_Page.htm#KXPA100 73, Eric elecraft.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem
Okey dokey, not the first time my impressioner has had the wrong impression. I guess that kind of makes sense actually, the only way the KAT500 could know the exact frequency would be if the K3 sent it in the form of a command, and I don't know if the KAT500 accepts commands on that port, I think all 15 lines have some specific purpose. For full disclosure: Selecting the last used antenna and L-C will probably achieve an acceptable match in my situation every time. That might not be so for those who move between 80 and 75, or CW and SSB on topband. Regardless, mine goes to the right tuning essentially instantly. I am primarily CW but I do operate SSB in some selected contests [NAQP, SS] and RTTY [RTTY RU, NAQP], and I have never had this problem. I saw an email from Wayne that they are working on this fairly intensely, I suspect there will be a solution forthcoming. I've observed that Elecraft doesn't like a problem cropping up for multiple customers. :-)) Any clue when I should start looking for your next book? 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - www.cqp.org On 12/30/2013 4:15 PM, Cady, Fred wrote: With the 15-pin network (I like it!), the KAT500 knows the band and selects the last used antenna and L-C for that band. It doesn't know the frequency until you transmit when it can select the ant and L-C from the segment memory (which could be different than the last used on the band, if you were on the bottom of the band and come back on and transmit on the top of the band). __ 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] Serial Cable routing
What is the preferred serial cable routing for the full K line: K3, P3 and KPA500 ? Looks like from the KPA maunal that PC only goes to Amp. Thanks, Phil K3TUF __ 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 Headphone Clicks
I thought that the clunks were due to RF interference! If they are down to a problem that Elecraft knows about, like the poor speaker performance, then I'm not greately impressed as I use headphones to avoid the speaker problems... Dave (G0DJA) - Original Message - From: Hjalmar Duklæt dukl...@broadpark.no To: Jim Bennett w6...@mac.com; Elecraft Reflector Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 9:16 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 Headphone Clicks You are right. It doesn't help me. For me it all comes down to how much background noise there is. So for me it helps both with NR and NB as they both reduce the noise. When the QRN/QRM is above S6 I have to turn the AF gain down to 1. I still can here the signals, so for me it's no big problem. But I hope to get rid of it all in a future F/W version.73 de Hal la4xx On 13-12-30, Jim Bennett w6...@mac.com wrote: Just spent an hour or so working with Howard and Wayne at Elecraft trying to nail this down. I tried various things, including adjusting the lower three audio equalization bands, using a lower NR setting, setting the receive bandwidth to 100-300 Hz, setting NB on at a low setting, and using a non-zero QSK delay. In my situation, there was but one thing that just about completely eliminated this clicking: turning OFF the NR. With it turned on, at level 1, the clicking was ugly. Increasing it up to 9 or 10 helped a little, but lowered receive volume too much. Turning NR off stopped my clicks. This may or may not help with YOUR particular rig's key click problems, but it fixed mine until they have a firmware resolution. Thanks to the guys at Elecraft for their continued excellent support!! Happy New Year to all, and may 2014 bring you the goodies on your wish list. (I already got mine - KX3, KPA500, KAT500), so I'm pretty much outta luck this coming year!!! :-) 73, Jim / W6JHB Folsom, CA On Monday, Dec 30, 2013, at Monday, 12:53 AM, Hjalmar Duklæt wrote: Yes, this is a known issue. Try to turn down the AF gain when keying. That will make it much better. 73 de Hal la43xx On 13-12-30, Klaus Koppendorfer k...@ccf.net wrote: that is what we had several times told to elecraft, qsk on kx3 is bad, you can read this also at bob sherwood Von: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] im Auftrag von Jim Bennett [w6...@mac.com] Gesendet: Montag, 30. Dezember 2013 01:26 An: Elecraft Reflector Reflector Betreff: [Elecraft] KX3 Headphone Clicks Hi All - just this past weekend completed building KX3 # 5539. Seems to work fine except for one thing. When I've got headphones plugged in and running full break-in I'm hearing a fairly strong clicking noise. I set the rig into semi-QSK with a 1-second DLY and see that the click is happening when the radio goes back into receive, NOT when I key it and send RF out into the ozone. Any idea what's happening here? I've tried it with three different sets of 'phones: A Sony MDR-V6, a Bose Triport, and an el-cheapo pair of 'round-the-ear phones that I use with my iPhone at the gym. I hear the same click on all three. I then unplugged the 'phones and listened to the built-in speaker with DLY at zero. The clicks are there, too. Very annoying. Any hints?? Jim / W6JHB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@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 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 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem
That would be very slick, the tuner and amp would be ready to go after a frequency change. Rich - N5ZC On 12/30/2013 6:30 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: At present the KAT500 gets only band number, not VFO frequency, from the K3. We're looking at possible firmware changes that would give the KAT500 VFO info or otherwise prepare it better for the next transmission at the new in-band frequency. Details later. Wayne N6KR On Dec 30, 2013, at 4:15 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: With the 15-pin network (I like it!), the KAT500 knows the band and selects the last used antenna and L-C for that band. It doesn't know the frequency until you transmit when it can select the ant and L-C from the segment memory (which could be different than the last used on the band, if you were on the bottom of the band and come back on and transmit on the top of the band). -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 3:58 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem My K-line is all connected via the Elecraft 15-pin Network. If I remember correctly, it's: computer--P3--K3--KAT500--KPA500 or something like that. I was under the impression that the KAT500 already knows what frequency I'm about to transmit on and is ready for me, even before it senses RF? 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - www.cqp.org On 12/30/2013 1:45 PM, Cady, Fred wrote: Hi Fred et al, I think CW operators have not had the same level of problems as SSB operators, unless they are using high speed CW. The tuner seems to get all the information it needs in about a dits worth of RF. But I think it has to be pretty constant RF and the varying SSB waveform may be causing the problem. I think training (using a steady CW carrier) and then operating in MAN mode is the key, given there aren't other things going on such as RF that others have suggested. __ 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] KX3 Headphone Clicks
Dave, What I'm having are not clunks - they are truly clicks. And they happen when the KX3 returns from a transmit state to a receive state. I hear it with the external speaker somewhat, but more so with headphones turned on. This is probably due to the fact that there are other things in the room that I'm hearing, while with the cans on my head, I hear nothing but the KX3. And in my case, I can remove those clicks about 99.9% by turning off NR. I'm pretty confident that Wayne the crew will have this one resolved pretty quickly. Jim / W6JHB On Monday, Dec 30, 2013, at Monday, 5:33 PM, Dave wrote: I thought that the clunks were due to RF interference! If they are down to a problem that Elecraft knows about, like the poor speaker performance, then I'm not greately impressed as I use headphones to avoid the speaker problems... Dave (G0DJA) - Original Message - From: Hjalmar Duklæt dukl...@broadpark.no To: Jim Bennett w6...@mac.com; Elecraft Reflector Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 9:16 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 Headphone Clicks You are right. It doesn't help me. For me it all comes down to how much background noise there is. So for me it helps both with NR and NB as they both reduce the noise. When the QRN/QRM is above S6 I have to turn the AF gain down to 1. I still can here the signals, so for me it's no big problem. But I hope to get rid of it all in a future F/W version.73 de Hal la4xx On 13-12-30, Jim Bennett w6...@mac.com wrote: Just spent an hour or so working with Howard and Wayne at Elecraft trying to nail this down. I tried various things, including adjusting the lower three audio equalization bands, using a lower NR setting, setting the receive bandwidth to 100-300 Hz, setting NB on at a low setting, and using a non-zero QSK delay. In my situation, there was but one thing that just about completely eliminated this clicking: turning OFF the NR. With it turned on, at level 1, the clicking was ugly. Increasing it up to 9 or 10 helped a little, but lowered receive volume too much. Turning NR off stopped my clicks. This may or may not help with YOUR particular rig's key click problems, but it fixed mine until they have a firmware resolution. Thanks to the guys at Elecraft for their continued excellent support!! Happy New Year to all, and may 2014 bring you the goodies on your wish list. (I already got mine - KX3, KPA500, KAT500), so I'm pretty much outta luck this coming year!!! :-) 73, Jim / W6JHB Folsom, CA On Monday, Dec 30, 2013, at Monday, 12:53 AM, Hjalmar Duklæt wrote: Yes, this is a known issue. Try to turn down the AF gain when keying. That will make it much better. 73 de Hal la43xx On 13-12-30, Klaus Koppendorfer k...@ccf.net wrote: that is what we had several times told to elecraft, qsk on kx3 is bad, you can read this also at bob sherwood Von: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] im Auftrag von Jim Bennett [w6...@mac.com] Gesendet: Montag, 30. Dezember 2013 01:26 An: Elecraft Reflector Reflector Betreff: [Elecraft] KX3 Headphone Clicks Hi All - just this past weekend completed building KX3 # 5539. Seems to work fine except for one thing. When I've got headphones plugged in and running full break-in I'm hearing a fairly strong clicking noise. I set the rig into semi-QSK with a 1-second DLY and see that the click is happening when the radio goes back into receive, NOT when I key it and send RF out into the ozone. Any idea what's happening here? I've tried it with three different sets of 'phones: A Sony MDR-V6, a Bose Triport, and an el-cheapo pair of 'round-the-ear phones that I use with my iPhone at the gym. I hear the same click on all three. I then unplugged the 'phones and listened to the built-in speaker with DLY at zero. The clicks are there, too. Very annoying. Any hints?? Jim / W6JHB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@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 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:
Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
Well mine sure didn't go into bypass...lots of thick black smoke and it thought everything was just fine/ good to go...as I was running for the fire extinguisher. It confused the heck out of me because the swr was well below 2:1 (like 1.4:1) and I was well within power limits on CW. The good news is that it still works... even baked. Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ / J68HZ/ 8P6HK/ ZF2HZ/ PJ4HZ Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch Staunton, Illinois email: b...@wjschmidt.com -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 8:42 PM To: Bill W2BLC Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem This is correctable in firmware (we're looking into how best to achieve that). It is extremely unlikely any damage would occur. Both the KAT500 and KPA500 monitor a half-dozen parameters and go into bypass immediately if operation is unsafe. Wayne2 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
Re: [Elecraft] Serial Cable routing
Computer - P3 - K3 Computer - KPA500 Computer - KAT500 Neither the KPA500 nor the KAT500 are involved in the P3/K3 serial port chain. Jack Brindle, W6FB Sent from my iPad On Dec 30, 2013, at 5:22 PM, Phil Theis p...@k3tuf.com wrote: What is the preferred serial cable routing for the full K line: K3, P3 and KPA500 ? Looks like from the KPA maunal that PC only goes to Amp. Thanks, Phil K3TUF __ 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] Serial Cable routing
So iPad [I can say that because I actually know you're a human being, you hiked me a couple of miles to the In-N-Out :-)], what am I missing here? The instructions told me to go to the P3 before the K3, and to put the KAT500 in between the K3 and KPA500. This has worked for me from the very beginning, not long after the Big Bang, and for ever after ... well, at least as far as we've gotten. Full Disclosure: The computer now goes to a little boardie-thing from Pignology that runs my PigKnob, and then to the P3. The rest is all the same, and it all works, still. I thought the KAT would interrupt the KPA key line when tuning, thus it happens before the KPA on the 15-wire Elecraft Network? Oh so much to learn. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - www.cqp.org On 12/30/2013 6:48 PM, Jack Brindle wrote: Computer - P3 - K3 Computer - KPA500 Computer - KAT500 Neither the KPA500 nor the KAT500 are involved in the P3/K3 serial port chain. Jack Brindle, W6FB Sent from my iPad __ 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/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
That points to a common connector as the problem Check your common connector - something before the antennas. Craig Buck On Dec 30, 2013, at 3:14 PM, Jim Bennett w6...@mac.com wrote: They are on all of MY various HF antennas: doublet, Inverted L's, and a ground mounted vertical. On Monday, Dec 30, 2013, at Monday, 11:54 AM, Jim Miller wrote: Do you have coomon mode chokes on you feed lines? Jim ab3cv On Dec 30, 2013, at 1:29 PM, Bill W2BLC w2...@nycap.rr.com wrote: In regards to proper grounding etc.: I think it is safe to say that K3 owners have a very good grasp of what is needed to construct and operate a proper station - safety and RF wise. I do, yet still went back over every last connector/connection/lug, etc. Everything is locked down properly here. No baluns, good coax, and everything is mechanical and soldered along the entire antenna routes. Yet, the problem continues. Perhaps the most disconcerting part is that my other auto tuners/rigs do not exhibit this difficulty. Perhaps the KAT500 is seeing something the others do not. The difficult part is never knowing when the tuner will take off and the fact that MANUAL selection does not appear to make any difference. I have been using MANUAL for a couple of months. I do not see that it has made any difference in occurrences. The instances of run-away are random and it is usually days between events. Bill W2BLC K-Line __ 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] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem
Your symptoms may be completely unrelated to the discussion at hand (SWR-related faults). Please contact customer support and describe what happened. 73, Wayne N6KR On Dec 30, 2013, at 6:45 PM, Dr. William J. Schmidt, II b...@wjschmidt.com wrote: Well mine sure didn't go into bypass...lots of thick black smoke and it thought everything was just fine/ good to go...as I was running for the fire extinguisher. It confused the heck out of me because the swr was well below 2:1 (like 1.4:1) and I was well within power limits on CW. The good news is that it still works... even baked. Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ / J68HZ/ 8P6HK/ ZF2HZ/ PJ4HZ Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch Staunton, Illinois email: b...@wjschmidt.com -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 8:42 PM To: Bill W2BLC Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR problem This is correctable in firmware (we're looking into how best to achieve that). It is extremely unlikely any damage would occur. Both the KAT500 and KPA500 monitor a half-dozen parameters and go into bypass immediately if operation is unsafe. Wayne2 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] Serial Cable routing
You have it right, Fred. The only serial daisy chain is from PC to P3 to K3. The amp and KAT500 have independent connections to a PC. There is a15 pin ACC cable from K3 thru KAT500 to KPA500. 83 de Dick, K6KR On Dec 30, 2013, at 20:06, Fred Jensen k6...@foothill.net wrote: So iPad [I can say that because I actually know you're a human being, you hiked me a couple of miles to the In-N-Out :-)], what am I missing here? The instructions told me to go to the P3 before the K3, and to put the KAT500 in between the K3 and KPA500. This has worked for me from the very beginning, not long after the Big Bang, and for ever after ... well, at least as far as we've gotten. Full Disclosure: The computer now goes to a little boardie-thing from Pignology that runs my PigKnob, and then to the P3. The rest is all the same, and it all works, still. I thought the KAT would interrupt the KPA key line when tuning, thus it happens before the KPA on the 15-wire Elecraft Network? Oh so much to learn. 73, Hen Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - www.cqp.org On 12/30/2013 6:48 PM, Jack Brindle wrote: Computer - P3 - K3 Computer - KPA500 Computer - KAT500 Neither the KPA500 nor the KAT500 are involved in the P3/K3 serial port chain. Jack Brindle, W6FB Sent from my iPad __ 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] KX3 Amp
Just FYI, I got the Elecraft 100W amp in two or three weeks ago. At over $ 1100 it better beat these other amps. It has a tuner but I also have the ATU in the KX3 and two more discrete ATU's for higher power, balanced (PAL) , etc. Have you tried the Elecraft amp yet ? Bill Haden KF5TEU From: Igor Sokolov-2 [via Elecraft] [mailto:ml-node+s365791n7576093...@n2.nabble.com] Sent: Monday, July 01, 2013 11:56 AM To: KF5TEU Subject: Re: KX3 Amp Another correction. HLA 300 (and probably 150) have RF sensing PTT and automatic band switching. They also have decent IMD is not driven to full output power. HLA 300 is about 25-30 db IMD when driven to 150-200 watts (5-7watt input) and cost under 500 USD. No antenna tuner though. 73, Igor UA9CDC - Original Message - From: John Marvin [hidden email] To: [hidden email] Sent: Monday, July 01, 2013 11:54 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 Amp One correction. The HF Packer is not a 50w amp. It's about 45w at 160m, and then steadily less as you go up in frequency (40w for 80m, 35w for 40-20m, 30w for 17/15m, 25w for 12m and about 20w for 10m). It doesn't support 6m. These numbers come directly from a graph in the HF Packer manual. John AC0ZG On 6/30/2013 10:18 PM, Ariel Jacala wrote: Hands down the KXPA100. It isn't out yet - shipping in August but offers the greatest flexibility with a tuner and portability. The Hardrock is ~$260. It is only available to members of the Yahoo group right now. It is 160-6m and generates a solid 50w from 160-10, less on 6m. I own a Hardrock and it was a difficult build but Jim Veatch helped me out a lot - WA2EUJ. No tuner though so you will have to invest in a ZL100 or equivalent. The Elecraft tuner is faster and tunes a wider range. Size wise is only slightly smaller than the Elecraft 4 1/8 wide and tall by 7 deep. The TenTec is a larger amp - $800 plus a 100w tuner. The THP HL45B is a solid performer at about $450 from HRO. Again you need an outboard tuner. You have to manually switch bands. If you don't it will go on standby - a self protective feature. I played with a THP for a while and it works well. You can get one used - not easy - for about $250-$300. There are the RM Italy variants - beware do no t overdrive - IMD artifacts - HL300B is the model - only drive to 100W - I have no experience with this amp. These are not certified by the FCC. Some people have had great luck with the Juma 100w amp and some on the reflector may have owned one or built one. The Jumas can be programmed to band switch with the rig. Again - it needs an external 100w tuner. So here are your choices: Juma 100w - no tuner - band switches with rig automatic - FCC certified Hardrock 50w - no tuner - manual switching - not FCC certified TenTec - 100w - no tuner - band switching with rig automatic HFPacker - 50w - manual swiching KXPA100 - 100w - tuner - automatic band switching - FCC certified THP HL45B - 45w - no tuner - manual switching (except for FT817) - FCC certified THP HL100B - 10w - no tuner - manual switching - not FCC certified RM Italy HL150 - 150w - no tuner - manual switching? not FCC certified RM Italy HL300B = 300w - no tuner - manual switching? not FCC cerified Antennas Too many to list Personal favorites - G0GSF- multiband dipole - 4 bands are OK w/o a tuner, EFHW - cut to 45 ft with EARCI matchbox KX3 tuner will match 80-10m Ariel NY4G Sent from my iPad On Jun 30, 2013, at 11:39 PM, KF5TEU [hidden email] wrote: While all these posts have good advice for a bc trip , I really just want the KX3 amplifier. I have the other items already ( Delorme GPS plus SPOT with rescue insurance paid up, sat. phone rented , several 2M HT's ( APRS godd idea , I'll add that ) and the usual flares , panels , noisemakers and things that go bang ) . But...I need an amplifier and the right antennas to add to this. We will be doing the check in via SPOT , sat. AND am. band. SPOT loses lock in jungle and mountain ,vso do sat. phones and GPS. Certain unfriendlies like to jam their freq's as well. In addition to that any or all that gear can be broken , lost or confiscated by certain sticky fingered locals ( it.s happened ). Hard to jam 6M-160M all the time though. I am not shouting in the dark for rescue. We have several pre-planned operators standing by with preplanned times and frequencies and backup frequencies. But, they are also mobile or may have interference so I want the best chance at a clear signal both ways. There are no repeaters out there. This is in Africa. Please , any KX3 amplifier advice ? Ten-Tec , Hardrock , etc. , which specific models with setup/operating tips ? Greatly appreciated ! Billny4g [via Elecraft] [hidden email] wrote:Some HT's have GPS and with APRS one can send messages. I have used it on hikes so my wife can track me
Re: [Elecraft] Serial Cable routing
Oh Fred... You are mixing Apples and Lenovos… We are talking two different connections. The ones I listed are for the serial port. The connection you are talking about is the 15-pin AUX cable, which indeed goes from the K3 to the KAT500, then a second from the KAT500 to the KPA500. These are two totally different communications media. Also note that RS-232 is _NOT_ involved in the AUX connection, nor is the computer (or your Pig box). The KAT500 indeed does interrupt the KEY line that is included in the AUX cable running from the K3 to the KPA500. If you have separate phono-cables that connect the K3/KAT500/KPA500, you should immediately remove them! That signaling is handled in the AUX cable! I suspect you have things cabled properly, though. Otherwise you wouldn’t be cleaning my clock in all those contests! Perhaps we should have walked further to the IN-N-Out… :-) Jack B. On Dec 30, 2013, at 8:06 PM, Fred Jensen k6...@foothill.net wrote: So iPad [I can say that because I actually know you're a human being, you hiked me a couple of miles to the In-N-Out :-)], what am I missing here? The instructions told me to go to the P3 before the K3, and to put the KAT500 in between the K3 and KPA500. This has worked for me from the very beginning, not long after the Big Bang, and for ever after ... well, at least as far as we've gotten. Full Disclosure: The computer now goes to a little boardie-thing from Pignology that runs my PigKnob, and then to the P3. The rest is all the same, and it all works, still. I thought the KAT would interrupt the KPA key line when tuning, thus it happens before the KPA on the 15-wire Elecraft Network? Oh so much to learn. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - www.cqp.org On 12/30/2013 6:48 PM, Jack Brindle wrote: Computer - P3 - K3 Computer - KPA500 Computer - KAT500 Neither the KPA500 nor the KAT500 are involved in the P3/K3 serial port chain. Jack Brindle, W6FB Sent from my iPad __ 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] Serial Cable routing
Okay, sort of slow here but I'm remembering now that the serial is computer--P3--K3. The 15-wire Elecraft network is K3--KAT500--KPA500. Got the flashlight out, looked behind the rig, and that's how it seems to be. I've got this different USB thingy by the laptop that I now know goes to the KAT500 for FW updates. For what it's worth to everyone else: I update my Elecraft firmwares when something happens in them that affects me or that I might care about. Most of the time that's not the case and believe me, I'm not current ... if it works and makes me happy, good. I retired out of the DoD hardware/software business, and I learned a great lesson. If it works good for the people who use it, don't screw with it. Didn't make our marketing department happy, but they didn't like me anyway. Happy New Year to all 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - www.cqp.org On 12/30/2013 8:17 PM, Dick Dievendorff wrote: You have it right, Fred. The only serial daisy chain is from PC to P3 to K3. The amp and KAT500 have independent connections to a PC. There is a15 pin ACC cable from K3 thru KAT500 to KPA500. 83 de Dick, K6KR __ 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] Shipping a K3
I'm going to be shipping my K3. Any suggestions on the most affordable way considering insurance? I'll be packing it myself, double boxed with good padding and am thinking USPS 1st class. Haven't sent out anything pricey in years. Thanks Happy New Year Gary KA1J --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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
