Re: [Elecraft] KXV3 Issues - endless frustration
Udo, I'm not sure how the 1-mW calibration could fail. But I'll keep trying to duplicate the problem on my K3 (no luck so far). The rest of the crew will be back Monday, and they may have other suggestions. The KXV3B should have essentially the same path loss, but better port isolation, than the KXV3A. So your signal strength tests don't make sense, either. Note that the KXV3B includes the second preamp, which has a lot more gain than the main preamp. Are you using preamp 2 on the IF band? 73, Wayne N6KR On Jun 19, 2015, at 1:50 PM, Udo Langenohl - DK5YA wrote: > Just got my KXV3-B as a replacement of the former KXV3-A. Installing complete > after 1 hour. Removing the back panel makes things much easier btw. But > there's an issue. The 1 mW calibration fails. Thats what the Elecraft Utility > says: > > Elecraft K3 Utility Revision 1.13.5.9 > OS Version 6.1 Build 7601 Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2 > K3 MCU revision 05.26. RS-232 speed 38400 bit/s. > Starting 1 milliwatt calibration > Calibrating at 1.900 MHz > Calibration power settled at " 1.800.00;" > Elapsed time: 5 seconds > Tx Gain calibration failed because transmit power did not reach the expected > value > 1 milliwatt calibration failed > > Wait, there's more to come. I made a replacement because my guess was: KXV3-A > has a damage. > I use my K3 mostly on VHF with transverters, especially on 144 MHz EME. I'm > running a Xpol configuration with 4 antennas on 144 EME with two identical > transverters, both in phase and locked by a common external LO with 10 MHz > GPS control for Hpol and Vpol. > HPol RX is fed to the KXV3 XVTR In/Out while Vpol is fed to the AUX RF input. > I can listen to both planes simultaneously using diversity receive. > But something very strange happens when I compare signals on both planes. I > have a 144 MHz beacon nearby (just 25 miles away). That beacon is running 8 W > on a Hpol antenna. On my Hpol (main RX via KXV3) input this beacon comes up > to S9+35 dB while on Vpol (second RX via AUX) it's endstop (S9 +60dB). The > beacon is in the line of sight, there's a lot of RF on my location from this > beacon. > It's definetely not from the transverters or from mismatched antennas because > when I change inputs and connect the Hpol transverter output to the AUX RF > it's suddenly S9 +60 dB too. Both main and sub RX are exactly in the same > configuration, filters, bandwidth, NB Off, etc.. > I checked S/N on KXVR3-A (old board) and AUX few days ago with my HP8664A > signal generator. > On 28.200 (TVTR IF) I measured: > Top values: > KXV3-A TVTR IN: -10dBm = S9+25dB > AUX IN: -10dBm = S9+60dB (!) > KXV3-A TVTR IN: +3dBm = S9+60dB > Huge difference of at least 13dBm > Low values: > KXV3-A TVTR IN: -134dBm = signal detectable > KXV3-A TVTR IN: -140dBm = none > AUX IN:-140dBm = clear signal detectable > Again a difference of at least 6dB or even more. > > Now, with the new KXV3-B it's even worse, at least 22 dB difference between > the AUX IN and TVTR IN. > > What the heck is going wrong here? MAIN RX dead? > > 73 Udo, DK5YA > > -- > ** > Webs by DK5YA: * > http://www.mmmonvhf.de/ [editor]* > http://www.vhfdx.de/ [owner] * > http://www.palekastro.de/[owner] * > http://www.solweb.de/[owner] * > http://www.spessartwetter.de/[owner] * > ** > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to n...@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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KXV3B install - no problems
I also installed the KXV3B in my K3 s/n 1450 yesterday evening with no problems - other than of my own doing . The K3 has a KRX3 and two of the new synthesizers installed so of course the KRX3 needed to be removed to gain access to the KIO3 and KXV3. In removing and reinstalling the KRX3 one of TMP cables between the KREF3 and one of the synthesizers came lose and I failed to notice it. After buttoning up the K3 and enabling the KVX3B, I had no receive and no TX power output. Removing the top of the rig and resetting the bad cable fixed the problem. While I was at it I also reseated all of the TMP cables to/from the KREF3 and both synthesizers. The KXV3B went in without a hitch - no problems with pin length or board height. I inserted the KXV3B pins all the way into J66 then allowed the board to rotate toward the back panel and adjusted its final height as appropriate to align the mounting bushings with the screw holes and the rear (cover) panel. Preamp 2 appears to be somewhat more sensitive than the PR6/KXV3 that was replaced. A quick test with the XG3 and P3 on six meters shows the -108 dBm signal to be approximately 42 dB above the noise floor which would work out to an MDS of better than -150 dBm in a 500 Hz bandwidth. This compares to approximately -133 dBm with Preamp 1 and -126 dBm with the preamp off. Not shabby in the least. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 2015-06-19 6:04 AM, Barry Simpson wrote: I have just completed installing the KXV3B in my K3 s/n 1397. It already had a KXV3 in it (and a sub receiver which had to be removed and put back) and I am pleased to report that it all went together quite easily. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] KXV3 Issues - endless frustration
Just got my KXV3-B as a replacement of the former KXV3-A. Installing complete after 1 hour. Removing the back panel makes things much easier btw. But there's an issue. The 1 mW calibration fails. Thats what the Elecraft Utility says: Elecraft K3 Utility Revision 1.13.5.9 OS Version 6.1 Build 7601 Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2 K3 MCU revision 05.26. RS-232 speed 38400 bit/s. Starting 1 milliwatt calibration Calibrating at 1.900 MHz Calibration power settled at " 1.800.00;" Elapsed time: 5 seconds Tx Gain calibration failed because transmit power did not reach the expected value 1 milliwatt calibration failed Wait, there's more to come. I made a replacement because my guess was: KXV3-A has a damage. I use my K3 mostly on VHF with transverters, especially on 144 MHz EME. I'm running a Xpol configuration with 4 antennas on 144 EME with two identical transverters, both in phase and locked by a common external LO with 10 MHz GPS control for Hpol and Vpol. HPol RX is fed to the KXV3 XVTR In/Out while Vpol is fed to the AUX RF input. I can listen to both planes simultaneously using diversity receive. But something very strange happens when I compare signals on both planes. I have a 144 MHz beacon nearby (just 25 miles away). That beacon is running 8 W on a Hpol antenna. On my Hpol (main RX via KXV3) input this beacon comes up to S9+35 dB while on Vpol (second RX via AUX) it's endstop (S9 +60dB). The beacon is in the line of sight, there's a lot of RF on my location from this beacon. It's definetely not from the transverters or from mismatched antennas because when I change inputs and connect the Hpol transverter output to the AUX RF it's suddenly S9 +60 dB too. Both main and sub RX are exactly in the same configuration, filters, bandwidth, NB Off, etc.. I checked S/N on KXVR3-A (old board) and AUX few days ago with my HP8664A signal generator. On 28.200 (TVTR IF) I measured: Top values: KXV3-A TVTR IN: -10dBm = S9+25dB AUX IN: -10dBm = S9+60dB (!) KXV3-A TVTR IN: +3dBm = S9+60dB Huge difference of at least 13dBm Low values: KXV3-A TVTR IN: -134dBm = signal detectable KXV3-A TVTR IN: -140dBm = none AUX IN:-140dBm = clear signal detectable Again a difference of at least 6dB or even more. Now, with the new KXV3-B it's even worse, at least 22 dB difference between the AUX IN and TVTR IN. What the heck is going wrong here? MAIN RX dead? 73 Udo, DK5YA -- ** Webs by DK5YA: * http://www.mmmonvhf.de/ [editor]* http://www.vhfdx.de/ [owner] * http://www.palekastro.de/[owner] * http://www.solweb.de/[owner] * http://www.spessartwetter.de/[owner] * ** __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KXV3B install - no problems
Just got my KXV3-B as a replacement of the former KXV3-A. Installing complete after 1 hour. Removing the back panel makes things much easier btw. But there's an issue. The 1 mW calibration fails. Thats what the Elecraft Utility says: Elecraft K3 Utility Revision 1.13.5.9 OS Version 6.1 Build 7601 Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2 K3 MCU revision 05.26. RS-232 speed 38400 bit/s. Starting 1 milliwatt calibration Calibrating at 1.900 MHz Calibration power settled at " 1.800.00;" Elapsed time: 5 seconds Tx Gain calibration failed because transmit power did not reach the expected value 1 milliwatt calibration failed Wait, there's more to come. I made a replacement because my guess was: KXV3-A has a damage. I use my K3 mostly on VHF with transverters, especially on 144 MHz EME. I'm running a Xpol configuration with 4 antennas on 144 EME with two identical transverters, both in phase and locked by a common external LO with 10 MHz GPS control for Hpol and Vpol. HPol RX is fed to the KXV3 XVTR In/Out while Vpol is fed to the AUX RF input. I can listen to both planes simultaneously using diversity receive. But something very strange happens when I compare signals on both planes. I have a 144 MHz beacon nearby (just 25 miles away). That beacon is running 8 W on a Hpol antenna. On my Hpol (main RX via KXV3) input this beacon comes up to S9+35 dB while on Vpol (second RX via AUX) it's endstop (S9 +60dB). The beacon is in the line of sight, there's a lot of RF on my location from this beacon. It's definetely not from the transverters or from mismatched antennas because when I change inputs and connect the Hpol transverter output to the AUX RF it's suddenly S9 +60 dB too. Both main and sub RX are exactly in the same configuration, filters, bandwidth, NB Off, etc.. I checked S/N on KXVR3-A (old board) and AUX few days ago with my HP8664A signal generator. On 28.200 (TVTR IF) I measured: Top values: KXV3-A TVTR IN: -10dBm = S9+25dB AUX IN: -10dBm = S9+60dB (!) KXV3-A TVTR IN: +3dBm = S9+60dB Huge difference of 13dBm Low values: KXV3-A TVTR IN: -134dBm = signal detectable KXV3-A TVTR IN: -140dBm = none AUX IN: -140dBm = signal detectable Again a difference of at least 6dB or more. Now, with the new KXV3-B it's even worse, at least 22 dB difference between the AUX IN and TVTR IN. What the heck is going wrong here? MAIN RX dead? 73 Udo, DK5YA Am 19.06.2015 um 12:04 schrieb Barry Simpson: I have just completed installing the KXV3B in my K3 s/n 1397. It already had a KXV3 in it (and a sub receiver which had to be removed and put back) and I am pleased to report that it all went together quite easily. I updated the firmware to the required beta version and the new preamp 2 seems to work perfectly although no signals yet heard on 6/10/12m. I was initially troubled by the pre flashing on the display and thought there was some fault. However, I assume that it is an indicator that Pre 2 is turned on. Please can you remove that feature as I find it mildly irritating. Mine is an early serial number K3 that I built around August/September 2008 and until installing the KXV3B today, I had not even taken the top cover off for several years. It was a pleasant surprise to find the interior of the K3 looking absolutely pristine and dust free, other than for a very light coating on the PA heat sink, which I cleaned off. I also took the opportunity of replacing the battery (the original) although the voltage still showed 2.97 after all that time when I tested it. 73 Barry Simpson VK2BJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to dk...@dk5ya.de -- ** Webs by DK5YA: * http://www.mmmonvhf.de/ [editor]* http://www.vhfdx.de/ [owner] * http://www.palekastro.de/[owner] * http://www.solweb.de/[owner] * http://www.spessartwetter.de/[owner] * ** __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K1 tuning range issue.
Gil, My K1 is a two band (40/20) model purchased in 2001. I too was concerned with the lost "wiggle room" at the bottom of the bands, not to mention different values on the two bands. The 150 kHz VFO range ( I got 177 kHz) was a bit too touchy for me yet the lower range was nice for smooth tuning but a little limited on band coverage. I decided a tuning range of 100 kHz on 40 would be a nice trade off between band coverage and smooth tuning. Experimentally I got this by changing C2 from 68 pF to 78 pF, then adding 14.1 pF across L1 to adjust the VFO range. Silvered mica capacitors were used for the mods. I wound up with: 104 kHz band coverage 1.1 kHz lost wiggle room below 7.0 mHz 7.4 kHz lost wiggle room below 14.0 kHz 73, Dave K8AX __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K1 slightly frequency shift
Harry, Make certain L1 is mounted properly. Something is apparently moving in relationship to the L1 winding and causing the coupling to change. 73, Don W3FPR On 6/18/2015 5:09 AM, Harry via Elecraft wrote: Hello since a week I am also very happy owner of a K1 with the 4 band module, atu and nb board. The rx is amazing, but I notice a slight shift of the vfo if I am put my hand on the top cover of the K1. I notice this shift, about 100 hz, also after a longer warm up periode. Even when I put one or two fingers above the vfo dial. Any hints to reduce this little frequency shift? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K1 slightly frequency shift
Hello Glen, got the info about the X-Lock also from G4AON. But I am not asking about a drift in general, I noticed this small shift only if I put my hands on the top cover. 73 de Harry, DK2GZ -Ursprüngliche Mitteilung- Von: Glen Torr An: dk2gz Cc: elecraft Verschickt: Fr, 19 Jun 2015 8:05 am Betreff: Re: [Elecraft] K1 slightly frequency shift Hi Harry, I have purchased an X-Lock frequency stabiliser kit from Cumbria Designs, cumbriadesigns.co.uk. I have not built and installed it yet so can't comment on it but positive reviews and good article on installing it in the K1. Cheers, Glen VK1FB On Thursday, June 18, 2015, Harry via Elecraft < elecraft@mailman.qth.net> wrote: Hello since a week I am also very happy owner of a K1 with the 4 band module, atu and nb board. The rx is amazing, but I notice a slight shift of the vfo if I am put my hand on the top cover of the K1. I notice this shift, about 100 hz, also after a longer warm up periode. Even when I put one or two fingers above the vfo dial. Any hints to reduce this little frequency shift? 73 de Harry, DK2GZ Elecraft K1 / K2/100 / K3 / KPA500 __ Elecraft mailing list Home:http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help:http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by:http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list:http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered toglen.t...@gmail.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] KXV3B install - no problems
I have just completed installing the KXV3B in my K3 s/n 1397. It already had a KXV3 in it (and a sub receiver which had to be removed and put back) and I am pleased to report that it all went together quite easily. I updated the firmware to the required beta version and the new preamp 2 seems to work perfectly although no signals yet heard on 6/10/12m. I was initially troubled by the pre flashing on the display and thought there was some fault. However, I assume that it is an indicator that Pre 2 is turned on. Please can you remove that feature as I find it mildly irritating. Mine is an early serial number K3 that I built around August/September 2008 and until installing the KXV3B today, I had not even taken the top cover off for several years. It was a pleasant surprise to find the interior of the K3 looking absolutely pristine and dust free, other than for a very light coating on the PA heat sink, which I cleaned off. I also took the opportunity of replacing the battery (the original) although the voltage still showed 2.97 after all that time when I tested it. 73 Barry Simpson VK2BJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
