[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Announcement

[kevinr]

Good Evening,

The time change is next week, November 3rd.  I'd just as soon they left 
it in either one place or the other and never changed it again.  This 
time of year it's difficult to tell if it's day or night anyway :)  
However, there was a little sun this week.  The blue sky was visible 
directly overhead while the fog was medium dense all around.  The sound 
of me pounding a sledge hammer into a wedge echoed from it while I 
processed wood.


   Since I listen to AM radio I have been experiencing the different 
types of fading as the sun effects our atmosphere.  When they drop the 
power levels at sunset it becomes very apparent.  I think it was 
Wednesday where the QSB turned into a chop so bad I turned it off.  The 
CW from last week was weaker but I turned my K3 to 1817 kHz and followed 
along.  Listening to two radios on two different frequencies and modes 
seems normal :)  Keeping track of the pitch count, the runners' 
positions, and the CW net was not too much to handle.


Please join us on (or near):

14050 kHz at 2200z Sunday (3 PM PDT Sunday)
  7047 kHz at z Monday (5 PM PDT Sunday)

   73,
  Kevin. KD5ONS


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Re: [Elecraft] OT sort of. Charging Lithium Ion batteries

[K9MA]

I think pretty much all Li-ion chemistries can be charged at constant 
current to 80 percent, then at constant voltage. The last 20 percent 
takes a long time. The charging is terminated when the current drops 
below a certain limit in the constant voltage mode. This is mandatory: 
they cannot be float charged like other types. I think all the Li-ion 
charge controller chips do this.


See:

https://batteryuniversity.com/

73,
Scott K9MA

On 10/26/2019 17:39, Don Wilhelm wrote:
I have Lithium batteries in my laptop, my KX2, my electric razor, a 
tactical flashlight, and maybe some other things.  I use the dedicated 
chargers for each of them.
I think the dedicated, automatic chargers fill the batteries to 100%, 
so there must not be a lot of caution to only charge them to 80%. 



--
Scott  K9MA

k...@sdellington.us

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Re: [Elecraft] OT sort of. Charging Lithium Ion batteries

[ktalbott]

Used lithium of various chemistry since they first appeared in RC market. 
Universal recommendation for long term storage is 80%. Otherwise, charge & 
discharge to recommended hi/low voltage by chemistry. Maximize the life of 
multi-cell packs with balanced charge.Ken ke4rgSent from my Sprint Samsung 
Galaxy S10+.
 Original message From: Don Wilhelm  
Date: 10/26/19  6:39 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: 
[Elecraft] OT sort of. Charging Lithium Ion batteries I have Lithium batteries 
in my laptop, my KX2, my electric razor, a tactical flashlight, and maybe some 
other things.  I use the dedicated chargers for each of them.I think the 
dedicated, automatic chargers fill the batteries to 100%, so there must not be 
a lot of caution to only charge them to 80%.I cannot speak to the battery life 
advantage of charging only to 80%, but if you are charging them for storage, 
that may be a different matter.If you are simply charging them for use, wait 
until the dedicated charger displays a green light and be done with it.If you 
are not using a dedicated charger, look up the battery manufacturer's 
information for charging levels - they know their batteries better than other 
sources.Li-ion chemistry is different than LiFePO4, and the output voltage is 
different.  What works for one may not apply to the other.  A similar situation 
applies to Alkaline batteries vs. NiCad, and NiMH chemistries which we are more 
familiar with.Look to the battery manufacturer's information for the best 
source about your particular battery.73,Don W3FPROn 10/26/2019 5:33 PM, Fred 
Jensen wrote:> My LiFePO4 charger has a charging program to stop at about 80% 
and I've > been told that they like that if you're going to store them for 
awhile. > Don't know if that applies to Li Ion, there are a lot of lithium > 
chemistries these days.> > 73,> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW> Sparks NV DM09dn> Washoe 
County> > On 10/26/2019 1:17 PM, David Christ wrote:>> I recently read that 
Lithium Ion batteries should be charged only to >> 80% unless you are going to 
need full capacity.  Supposedly makes them >> last longer. Anyone ever 
heard of this? If true does this also apply to LiPO4 batteries? David 
K0LUM> > __> 
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Re: [Elecraft] P3 abnormal shut off problem

[Don Wilhelm]

Tom,

That sounds strange.  I would first suggest checking all the Power 
Supply to K3, and either K3 AUX DC to P3 or the Power Supply to P3 power 
cables for loose connections.


A drop from 14.5 to 14.7 volts down to 12.8 volts indicates a high 
resistance power cable or a bad power supply.


Measure the voltage at the power supply terminals to determine whether 
it is the power supply or the cables - if the voltage stays up at the 
power supply terminals, but the voltage sags at the K3 end, the cable is 
to blame.


OTOH, if the voltage at the power supply terminals sags significantly, 
then the power supply regulation is at fault.


Make certain all power cable connections are tight.  Power cables 
wrapped around the terminals are suspect (use ring terminals), as are 
the power supply terminals designed to "insert the wire and flip the 
lever" which may not guarantee a good tight connection.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/25/2019 5:44 PM, Tom Azlin W7SUA wrote:
Hi. My P3 has started turning off a few seconds to a minute after I turn 
on my K3/P3 or when I then try to turn my P3 back on. I was watching and 
saw no error message like low voltage. Watching also the voltmeter on my 
K3 and stayed at 14.5 to 14.7 volts. dropped power supply to 14 volts 
and it still shut down. Did a tune and voltage was 12.8 then back to 14 
then afterwards it shut off.


Is my power supply not holding up properly?

Will dig out a spare power supply next.


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Re: [Elecraft] OT sort of. Charging Lithium Ion batteries

[Don Wilhelm]

I have Lithium batteries in my laptop, my KX2, my electric razor, a 
tactical flashlight, and maybe some other things.  I use the dedicated 
chargers for each of them.
I think the dedicated, automatic chargers fill the batteries to 100%, so 
there must not be a lot of caution to only charge them to 80%.


I cannot speak to the battery life advantage of charging only to 80%, 
but if you are charging them for storage, that may be a different matter.


If you are simply charging them for use, wait until the dedicated 
charger displays a green light and be done with it.


If you are not using a dedicated charger, look up the battery 
manufacturer's information for charging levels - they know their 
batteries better than other sources.


Li-ion chemistry is different than LiFePO4, and the output voltage is 
different.  What works for one may not apply to the other.  A similar 
situation applies to Alkaline batteries vs. NiCad, and NiMH chemistries 
which we are more familiar with.


Look to the battery manufacturer's information for the best source about 
your particular battery.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/26/2019 5:33 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
My LiFePO4 charger has a charging program to stop at about 80% and I've 
been told that they like that if you're going to store them for awhile. 
Don't know if that applies to Li Ion, there are a lot of lithium 
chemistries these days.


73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 10/26/2019 1:17 PM, David Christ wrote:
I recently read that Lithium Ion batteries should be charged only to 
80% unless you are going to need full capacity.  Supposedly makes them 
last longer.


Anyone ever heard of this?

If true does this also apply to LiPO4 batteries?

David K0LUM




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Re: [Elecraft] OT sort of. Charging Lithium Ion batteries

[Fred Jensen]

My LiFePO4 charger has a charging program to stop at about 80% and I've 
been told that they like that if you're going to store them for awhile.  
Don't know if that applies to Li Ion, there are a lot of lithium 
chemistries these days.


73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 10/26/2019 1:17 PM, David Christ wrote:

I recently read that Lithium Ion batteries should be charged only to 80% unless 
you are going to need full capacity.  Supposedly makes them last longer.

Anyone ever heard of this?

If true does this also apply to LiPO4 batteries?

David K0LUM




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Re: [Elecraft] K3S

[Russ W9RB]

It seems the K1 and KX1 hold a fairly high value on the used market after
their demise. I'm hoping the K3 follows suit, so I can upgrade to the K4
later :)



-
73, Russ - W9RB
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[Elecraft] OT sort of. Charging Lithium Ion batteries

[David Christ]

I recently read that Lithium Ion batteries should be charged only to 80% unless 
you are going to need full capacity.  Supposedly makes them last longer.  

Anyone ever heard of this?

If true does this also apply to LiPO4 batteries?

David K0LUM

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Re: [Elecraft] K3S Macro AUX

[hdv]

Verzonden vanaf mijn Samsung Galaxy-smartphone.
I would like to control the Bset AUX with a macro.An SWT command works, but 
does not give a defined state. It just switches between main and aux.Is there a 
command which forces AUX in a defined state, no matter its current setting.73 
HenkPA0C
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Re: [Elecraft] K3S

[K9MA]

On 10/26/2019 13:38, hawley, charles j jr wrote:

One thing I remember when I got the P3 how much room it had into it. I thought 
at the time that a perforated top cover and a speaker would be a good accessory 
kit for it.


That wouldn't be hard to do yourself. Once the P3 is out of warranty, of 
course.


73,

Scott K9MA

--
Scott  K9MA

k...@sdellington.us

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Re: [Elecraft] K3S

[hawley, charles j jr]

Not apoplectic, however somewhat sad. I really like, most of all, the modular 
aspect of the K3 line, (K2 as well). The K4 just reminds me of the typical ham 
radios of the past with the new display, although as a plus, the direct 
sampling. I suppose I could get into it, but I have been thinking that the 
K3(S) line will be just fine and satisfy me whenever I'm in the shack for some 
time to come. I hope to live long enough to want one. 
One thing I remember when I got the P3 how much room it had into it. I thought 
at the time that a perforated top cover and a speaker would be a good accessory 
kit for it. That hasn't happened...yet. Maybe some aftermarket enterprise would 
step up. 
I'm not done with the K3 line...

Jack BMW Motorcycles
Chuck KE9UW
c-haw...@illinois.edu

Sent from my iPad

> On Oct 26, 2019, at 5:18 AM, eric norris via Elecraft 
>  wrote:
> 
> Am I the only one apoplectic over the news of the discontinuation of the K3S? 
>  Or did I read the newsletter wrong, my brain being soaked with RF in the 
> shack, RX noise, Mix 31 poisoning, and the Non-Resonant Too Low Antennas of 
> Damocles over my head?
> 73 Eric WD6DBM, owner, The Last KX1
> 
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
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Re: [Elecraft] RX noise and 2-wire lines

[Jim Brown]

Vic,

What you're missing is that an antenna and its feedline are a SYSTEM, 
and antennas can be unbalanced by their surroundings -- ground slope, 
un-equal mounting heights, conductors in nearby buildings or structure, 
trees, towers, etc. Any unbalance in the SYSTEM results in common mode 
current on the feedline.


73, Jim K9YC

On 10/26/2019 7:11 AM, Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP wrote:
I have to disagree about balanced line. Unlike coax, both conductors are 
exposed to external RF fields, so common mode noise will be rejected. If 
the antenna and line are properly balanced (not always easy to do, I 
admit) and if it is fed through a balanced antenna tuner, there is no 
reason for it to be noisier than coax. Yes, it can't be choked, but it 
doesn't need to be.


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500: Widely varying drive requirement - same frequency, different antenna

[Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft]

This is not unusual when the loads presented by the antennas (or tuner)  to the 
amp are different.  This can even be true when the SWRs are identical if the 
actual +/- reactance of one is different than the other. 

This is most noticeable on lower freq bands where the amps gain is typically 
higher. 

Eric
elecraft.com
---
Sent from my iPhone 6S

> On Oct 23, 2019, at 5:00 AM, N4ZR  wrote:
> 
> I have two 40M antennas, a Carolina Windom and a full-wave parasitic sloper. 
>  I have just noticed that on any given frequency, my K3 must deliver 
> considerably more power on one than the other, in order for the amp to 
> produce 1500 watts.  The difference is 27 watts on one vs 42 watts on the 
> other.  Is this normal?
> 
> -- 
> 
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> Check out the Reverse Beacon Network
> at , now
> spotting RTTY activity worldwide.
> For spots, please use your favorite
> "retail" DX cluster.
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 problem

[Clark Macaulay]

And, if you don't buy one of the new cartons/inserts, you'll get one when
they ship it back to you!

On Sat, Oct 26, 2019 at 12:47 PM Grant Youngman 
wrote:

> And if you don’t have a good condition original shipping container for the
> K3/S (or P3), it’s worth the small cost and wait to order a new one with
> the internal foam supports from Elecraft.  The shipping containers are
> available on the spare parts menu.
>
> Grant NQ5T
>
> > On Oct 26, 2019, at 12:36 PM, George Thornton <
> gthorn...@thorntonmostullaw.com> wrote:
> >
> > I want to echo my appreciation of Elecraft repair service.
> >
> > I had my K3 in a few years ago after it malfunctioned during field use.
> >
> > They also went through it and made all sorts of additions and
> calibrations.
> >
> > Really well worth the moderate cost and inconvenience.
> >
> > The unit continues to perform flawlessly.
> >
>
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-- 
73,

Clark, WU4B
QRPARCI #10815
SKCC #3892
NAQCC #5055
CWOPS #1869
Collins Collectors #AC90-12432
Southeastern DX Club 
North Georgia QRP Club 


*"It is vain to do with more what can be done with less."*
*Attributed to *William of Occam (1288 AD - 1348 AD)
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 problem

[Grant Youngman]

And if you don’t have a good condition original shipping container for the K3/S 
(or P3), it’s worth the small cost and wait to order a new one with the 
internal foam supports from Elecraft.  The shipping containers are available on 
the spare parts menu.

Grant NQ5T

> On Oct 26, 2019, at 12:36 PM, George Thornton 
>  wrote:
> 
> I want to echo my appreciation of Elecraft repair service.
> 
> I had my K3 in a few years ago after it malfunctioned during field use.
> 
> They also went through it and made all sorts of additions and calibrations.
> 
> Really well worth the moderate cost and inconvenience.
> 
> The unit continues to perform flawlessly.
> 

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Re: [Elecraft] Newsletter suggestion

[Gary Smith]

Folks,

I just don't see a url to click for this 
in my newsletter so I just added my gmail 
email to the mailing list & I'll read the 
newsletter from Google. I'll get two 
copies in Pegasus but that's when I'll 
know to read it from Google.

Thanks for the replies.

73,

Gary
KA1J

> My email software (Pegasus) strips many 
> different kinds of images, this is part of 
> its way of keeping viruses out of the 
> computer & one of the reasons I keep using 
> it after 25 years. It does this with most 
> bulk email like Kim Komando & best Buy for 
> example. It does this with the monthly 
> Elecraft newsletter as well. All I see are 
> gray squares where the photo was formatted 
> in the email.
> 
> Most bulk emails coming in like this have 
> a link to view the email on the web 
> (usually at the top, sometimes at the 
> bottom of the message) & if not, the gray 
> squares have a clickable link where it 
> takes you to the article in question. In 
> this month's newsletter there were some 
> things to see on the K4 but the photos did 
> not come with a clickable link so I can't 
> see the info.
> 
> My suggestion is to have a web page of the 
> newsletter available and that link 
> attached to each email. 2nd best would be 
> to have photos with clickable links.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Gary
> KA1J
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 problem

[George Thornton]

I want to echo my appreciation of Elecraft repair service.

I had my K3 in a few years ago after it malfunctioned during field use.

They also went through it and made all sorts of additions and calibrations.

Really well worth the moderate cost and inconvenience.

The unit continues to perform flawlessly.

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
Behalf Of Clark Macaulay
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2019 8:03 AM
To: Jim Leder 
Cc: Elecraft 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 problem

Jim,

In my view, that is a very wise decision.  I'm 77 yrs of age ("seasoned
citizen") with shaky hands.  After observing just how small the SMD components 
are when trying to install the K-pod mod for powering via its data cable,  I 
realized my 6 year old K3 with an annoying problem (PWR control mushy) needed 
to be sent home (aka The SPA).

What I hadn't expected was that they would also bring the radio up to the 
latest specs by installing gold pins, installing the latest firmware (which I 
thought I had done), repairing a LPA problem I didn't know I had, and 
performing all of the calibrations (my POWER reading was significantly off, 
they said).  Yes, it was a little expensive ($400), but well worth it, and my 
K3 will now serve me well for many years to come.  You will not be disappointed.

On Sat, Oct 26, 2019 at 9:35 AM Jim Leder  wrote:

> This is a follow up on the VFO B control problem with a friend’s older K3.
>
> Thanks to all the ideas and suggestions! I do agree that it is likely 
> the infamous K3 connector problem. As I mentioned, the K3 is an older 
> unit. The ham who it belongs to is 78 with bad eyes, and shaky hands. 
> I’m 74 with bad eyes and shaky hands. Neither of us feels qualified to 
> tear into it for what hopefully is the main issue. It could still be a bad 
> encoder.
> Since he needs a few other things done with the unit, he made the 
> decision to send it back to Elecraft and have qualified techs perform the 
> repair.
> Painful and costly but necessary.
> When we did the hard reset, we hoped it would solve the B control problem.
> Well, it didn’t. Now we can’t even scroll through the CONFIG menus to 
> put everything back as he had it.
>
> Doesn’t matter. It needs to go home.
>
> Thanks again for the valued suggestions!!
>
> 73 …
>
> Jim Leder … K8CXM
>
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> clark.macau...@gmail.com
>


--
73,

Clark, WU4B
QRPARCI #10815
SKCC #3892
NAQCC #5055
CWOPS #1869
Collins Collectors #AC90-12432
Southeastern DX Club  North Georgia QRP Club 



*"It is vain to do with more what can be done with less."* *Attributed to 
*William of Occam (1288 AD - 1348 AD) 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 problem

[Clark Macaulay]

Jim,

In my view, that is a very wise decision.  I'm 77 yrs of age ("seasoned
citizen") with shaky hands.  After observing just how small the SMD
components are when trying to install the K-pod mod for powering via its
data cable,  I realized my 6 year old K3 with an annoying problem (PWR
control mushy) needed to be sent home (aka The SPA).

What I hadn't expected was that they would also bring the radio up to the
latest specs by installing gold pins, installing the latest firmware (which
I thought I had done), repairing a LPA problem I didn't know I had, and
performing all of the calibrations (my POWER reading was significantly off,
they said).  Yes, it was a little expensive ($400), but well worth it, and
my K3 will now serve me well for many years to come.  You will not be
disappointed.

On Sat, Oct 26, 2019 at 9:35 AM Jim Leder  wrote:

> This is a follow up on the VFO B control problem with a friend’s older K3.
>
> Thanks to all the ideas and suggestions! I do agree that it is likely the
> infamous K3 connector problem. As I mentioned, the K3 is an older unit. The
> ham who it belongs to is 78 with bad eyes, and shaky hands. I’m 74 with bad
> eyes and shaky hands. Neither of us feels qualified to tear into it for
> what hopefully is the main issue. It could still be a bad encoder.
> Since he needs a few other things done with the unit, he made the decision
> to send it back to Elecraft and have qualified techs perform the repair.
> Painful and costly but necessary.
> When we did the hard reset, we hoped it would solve the B control problem.
> Well, it didn’t. Now we can’t even scroll through the CONFIG menus to put
> everything back as he had it.
>
> Doesn’t matter. It needs to go home.
>
> Thanks again for the valued suggestions!!
>
> 73 …
>
> Jim Leder … K8CXM
>
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>


-- 
73,

Clark, WU4B
QRPARCI #10815
SKCC #3892
NAQCC #5055
CWOPS #1869
Collins Collectors #AC90-12432
Southeastern DX Club 
North Georgia QRP Club 


*"It is vain to do with more what can be done with less."*
*Attributed to *William of Occam (1288 AD - 1348 AD)
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[Elecraft] RX noise and 2-wire lines (was: KPA1500 RFI on 12m)

[Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP]

Jim,

I have to disagree about balanced line. Unlike coax, both conductors are 
exposed to external RF fields, so common mode noise will be rejected. If 
the antenna and line are properly balanced (not always easy to do, I 
admit) and if it is fed through a balanced antenna tuner, there is no 
reason for it to be noisier than coax. Yes, it can't be choked, but it 
doesn't need to be.


My antenna is a 10m long rotary dipole fed with open line. It has gone 
through several iterations and I've been very careful to install the 
line so that it is perpendicular to the antenna for as far as possible, 
etc. I've tried various balun arrangements, but the system that works 
best, both for reducing RF in the shack when transmitting and noise 
immunity when receiving, is a Johnson kW Matchbox.


There is a building taller than mine a few hundred meters away from it, 
and a very distinct noise peak when the antenna is turned toward it, 
which seems to indicate that the noise is picked up by the antenna, not 
the line. I notice the same noise peak with a coax-fed shielded loop 
antenna, so it is definitely coming from the building, and isn't an 
artifact of the alignment of the antenna to the line.  I am pretty sure 
I have at least a 10 dB difference in noise when a band is open (at 
least, when the antenna is not aimed at that building), but I will wait 
until the band is solidly dead tonight to check that out.


My pattern is a form of figure 8 on 40-10 meters, but you are right that 
you can't maintain the pattern over a greater frequency range.


My main point is that there is nothing inherently noisy about a two-wire 
transmission line!


73,
Victor, 4X6GP
Rehovot, Israel
Formerly K2VCO
CWops no. 5
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
On 26-Oct-2019 10:32, Jim Brown wrote:

On 10/25/2019 2:01 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
Except for my 6M yagi, all of my antennas are non-resonant antennas. 
My favorite is the 256 ft center fed wire {resonant at 1.825 MHz}  
with a balanced feed.


Dean Straw, N6BV, retired editor of the ARRL Antenna Book and Antenna 
Compendiums, is a very smart engineer and a very good friend. But his 
promotion of this sort of antenna is probably the greatest error of his 
time in that job, an idea whose time is LONG past, for many reasons. 
Primary -- 1) it cannot be choked to kill noise on RX, and 99.9% of hams 
live surrounded by local noise and 2) it's pattern is different on every 
frequency.


I am a strong believer in resonant antennas for each band, if if the 
must be multi-band antennas like fan dipoles to fit in the available 
space. For example, a 20/15/10 fan fits in 33 ft and works great, with a 
predictable pattern on each band. An 80/40 fan works on 15M, with a 
predictable pattern on both 80 and 40. Hypower Antenna company sells 
loaded antennas that are resonant on 80 and 40 and fit into about 100 
ft; I used one in Chicago on 30 to great effect. All of these antennas 
are fed with 50 or 75 ohm coax, and CAN be choked to kill RX noise.


RX noise is a VERY big deal -- if you can't hear 'em, you can't work 
'em. If you haven't worked to minimize your RX noise, you're DXing with 
one hand tied behind your back! My friend AG6EE goes to remote locations 
in NV, OR, and CA to light up rare grids with 1kW on 6M. Folks trying to 
work him complain of one-way propagation because he hears them really 
well and the don't hear him, but the REAL problem is their local RX noise.


http://k9yc.com/KillingReceiveNoise.pdf  Text, NCJ article
http://k9yc.com/KillingRXNoiseVisalia.pdf  Slides Visalia talk

73, Jim K9YC


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[Elecraft] K3 problem

[Jim Leder]

This is a follow up on the VFO B control problem with a friend’s older K3.

Thanks to all the ideas and suggestions! I do agree that it is likely the 
infamous K3 connector problem. As I mentioned, the K3 is an older unit. The ham 
who it belongs to is 78 with bad eyes, and shaky hands. I’m 74 with bad eyes 
and shaky hands. Neither of us feels qualified to tear into it for what 
hopefully is the main issue. It could still be a bad encoder.
Since he needs a few other things done with the unit, he made the decision to 
send it back to Elecraft and have qualified techs perform the repair. Painful 
and costly but necessary.
When we did the hard reset, we hoped it would solve the B control problem. 
Well, it didn’t. Now we can’t even scroll through the CONFIG menus to put 
everything back as he had it.

Doesn’t matter. It needs to go home.

Thanks again for the valued suggestions!!

73 …

Jim Leder … K8CXM

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Re: [Elecraft] K3S

[rich hurd WC3T]

Apparently you didn’t read it wrong.

On Sat, Oct 26, 2019 at 06:17 eric norris via Elecraft <
elecraft@mailman.qth.net> wrote:

> Am I the only one apoplectic over the news of the discontinuation of the
> K3S?  Or did I read the newsletter wrong, my brain being soaked with RF in
> the shack, RX noise, Mix 31 poisoning, and the Non-Resonant Too Low
> Antennas of Damocles over my head?
> 73 Eric WD6DBM, owner, The Last KX1
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
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-- 
72,
Rich Hurd / WC3T / DMR: 3142737
Northampton County RACES, EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer for Scouting
Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude: -75.288988  (40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W) Grid:
*FN20is*
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[Elecraft] K3S

[eric norris via Elecraft]

Am I the only one apoplectic over the news of the discontinuation of the K3S?  
Or did I read the newsletter wrong, my brain being soaked with RF in the shack, 
RX noise, Mix 31 poisoning, and the Non-Resonant Too Low Antennas of Damocles 
over my head?
73 Eric WD6DBM, owner, The Last KX1

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RFI on 12m

[Eric Norris]

Yes, that is the solution.  But it shouldn't have to be for an amplifier of
the KPA1500's price and class.  Further testing shows that on other bands,
with an SWR of 1.5 to 2.0, if the tuner is IN, it also goes into random
retunes.  When the tuner is in BYPASS, the KPA1500 is happy.  Also very
weird.  I never had this problem with KAT500/KPA500 combo on the same
antennas, and still don't.  I think the KPA1500 firmware needs some
tweaking.  This is true even when running the KPA1500 at 500w

73 Eric WD6DBM

73 Eric WD6DBM

On Fri, Oct 25, 2019, 5:41 AM Dave  wrote:

> In the KPA1500 utility I have the tuner bypassed for the whole 60 meter
> band. The tuner’s logic is detecting a high SWR and overriding the bypass
> selection. This happens at 30 watts forward power.
>
> The answer is to turn off the amp when on 60 and just use the radio’s
> tuner.
>
> Dave wo2x
>
> Sent from my waxed string and tin cans.
>
> > On Oct 25, 2019, at 8:17 AM, Andy Durbin  wrote:
> >
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RFI on 12m

[Jim Brown]

On 10/25/2019 2:01 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
Except for my 6M yagi, all of my antennas are non-resonant antennas. My 
favorite is the 256 ft center fed wire {resonant at 1.825 MHz}  with a 
balanced feed.


Dean Straw, N6BV, retired editor of the ARRL Antenna Book and Antenna 
Compendiums, is a very smart engineer and a very good friend. But his 
promotion of this sort of antenna is probably the greatest error of his 
time in that job, an idea whose time is LONG past, for many reasons. 
Primary -- 1) it cannot be choked to kill noise on RX, and 99.9% of hams 
live surrounded by local noise and 2) it's pattern is different on every 
frequency.


I am a strong believer in resonant antennas for each band, if if the 
must be multi-band antennas like fan dipoles to fit in the available 
space. For example, a 20/15/10 fan fits in 33 ft and works great, with a 
predictable pattern on each band. An 80/40 fan works on 15M, with a 
predictable pattern on both 80 and 40. Hypower Antenna company sells 
loaded antennas that are resonant on 80 and 40 and fit into about 100 
ft; I used one in Chicago on 30 to great effect. All of these antennas 
are fed with 50 or 75 ohm coax, and CAN be choked to kill RX noise.


RX noise is a VERY big deal -- if you can't hear 'em, you can't work 
'em. If you haven't worked to minimize your RX noise, you're DXing with 
one hand tied behind your back! My friend AG6EE goes to remote locations 
in NV, OR, and CA to light up rare grids with 1kW on 6M. Folks trying to 
work him complain of one-way propagation because he hears them really 
well and the don't hear him, but the REAL problem is their local RX noise.


http://k9yc.com/KillingReceiveNoise.pdf  Text, NCJ article
http://k9yc.com/KillingRXNoiseVisalia.pdf  Slides Visalia talk

73, Jim K9YC
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Re: [Elecraft] Newsletter suggestion

[Jim Brown]

On 10/25/2019 8:48 PM, Gary Smith wrote:

My email software (Pegasus) strips many
different kinds of images,


Gary,

I get Elecraft from two email addresses, one of which I read with 
Thunderbird, and the other with Yahoo Mail. BOTH give me the option to 
view the email in my browser.


73, Jim K9YC
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