Re: [Elecraft] KX3 power out
On 7/11/20 8:40 PM, Mark Goldberg wrote: The KX3 will definitely cut way back on power out if it sees a mismatched load or a line voltage drop. I use my KX3 to tune a screwdriver antenna. I normally set the power out to about 3W, but sometimes forget and leave it at 15W. When matched, it puts out a full 15W. When it sees a high SWR, it will cut back to a few watts. I have the tuner bypassed. The KX3 will show you what it sees as the SWR as well as the power, and you can also look at reflected power on the Bird. Hopefully those will tell you something. Interesting info, thanks. I'm still baffled at why putting the ATU on auto and tapping to tune would cause the wattmeter to show TPO at 25 watts. Frank __ 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] Elecraft CW Net Announcement
Good Evening, Each new sunspot appears and disappears within a day or two. However, there are new sunspots appearing. Maybe we are past solar minimum, by a smidge. The foxgloves are in bloom. They are my gather wood now indicator. When they are done blooming I better have my wood in. No pressure :) If the sky was clear in the morning I would try to see comet Neowise. It is getting farther from the sun so the sky will be darker. A large nucleus comet could put on quite a show. It's at magnitude 2 with both an ion and a dust tail. 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 _ __ 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] KX3 power out
On the KX3 display, the voltage is 14.3v at idle, 13.8v key-down. At the power supply, 14.5v idle, 14.15v key-down. On 7/11/20 7:51 PM, Brian Hunt wrote: What is the key-down voltage seen on the KX3 display? Measure the regulated voltage at the PS under the same conditions. Is it OK? I had power control problems on my K3 until I solved the sagging voltage problem. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX3 power out
On Sat, Jul 11, 2020 at 7:06 PM Frank O'Donnell wrote: > As for Walter's point about the ATU, the results are mighty odd. I just > set the KX3 to 40 meters with 15 watts out, appropriate slug in the Bird > 43, set ATU to bypass and started keying. The power out dropped to about > 5w. I then set ATU to auto and tapped the ATU Tune button. With the > radio still set to 15w out, the Bird now peaked at about 25w! Is it > plausible that antenna tuning activity within the KX3 could actually > increase the TPO by ~5x? Or does that cast even more suspicion on the Bird? The KX3 will definitely cut way back on power out if it sees a mismatched load or a line voltage drop. I use my KX3 to tune a screwdriver antenna. I normally set the power out to about 3W, but sometimes forget and leave it at 15W. When matched, it puts out a full 15W. When it sees a high SWR, it will cut back to a few watts. I have the tuner bypassed. The KX3 will show you what it sees as the SWR as well as the power, and you can also look at reflected power on the Bird. Hopefully those will tell you something. 73, Mark W7MLG __ 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] KX3 power out
What is the key-down voltage seen on the KX3 display? Measure the regulated voltage at the PS under the same conditions. Is it OK? I had power control problems on my K3 until I solved the sagging voltage problem. GL & 73, K0DTJ > On Jul 11, 2020, at 12:42, Frank O'Donnell wrote: > > Always something else I remember just after hitting send. > > The KX3 is running off the Pro Audio Engineering PAE-Kx33 power supply, > plugged into the 9-15 vdc connector. > >> On 7/11/20 12:40 PM, Frank O'Donnell wrote: >> After a fair time of non-use, today I got out my KX3 and started working >> through configuration checklists. Among other things I thought I'd check the >> power out. >> >> For this test I used a Bird 43 and MFJ-260C dummy load. For HF I used a Bird >> 2-30 MHz 25w element, and for 2m a 100-250 MHz 10w element. I put the KX3 in >> CW mode and keyed with the KXPD3 paddle. When changing to each HF band I hit >> the ATU Tune button. >> >> On 40m and 20m I found that with the Pwr knob set to 15w, the Bird showed >> about 8w out. With the Pwr knob set to 5w, the power out is about 3w. >> >> After changing the antenna port and Bird element, on 2m with the radio set >> to 3w the Bird shows about 2.5w out. >> >> Any thoughts on these results, or suggestions on other things to check? >> >> Thanks and 73, >> >> Frank K6FOD > > __ > 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 huntin...@coastside.net __ 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] KX3 power out
I believe that the KX3 does not have bypass relays in its ATU. Instead, when you select "Bypass", it sets the ATU to have no C or L added. If the ATU is not functioning correctly, perhaps with a stuck relay, it may still be affecting the measurements. 73 Bill AE6JV On 7/11/20 at 10:05 PM, vf...@inkbox.net (Frank O'Donnell) wrote: As for Walter's point about the ATU, the results are mighty odd. I just set the KX3 to 40 meters with 15 watts out, appropriate slug in the Bird 43, set ATU to bypass and started keying. The power out dropped to about 5w. I then set ATU to auto and tapped the ATU Tune button. With the radio still set to 15w out, the Bird now peaked at about 25w! Is it plausible that antenna tuning activity within the KX3 could actually increase the TPO by ~5x? Or does that cast even more suspicion on the Bird? --- Bill Frantz|The nice thing about standards| Periwinkle (408)348-7900 |is there are so many to choose| 150 Rivermead Rd #235 www.pwpconsult.com |from. - Andrew Tanenbaum| Peterborough, NH 03458 __ 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] KX3 power out
This procedure (manual, or automated via the KX3 Utility) applies only to 160-6M Grant NQ5T > On Jul 11, 2020, at 10:05 PM, Frank O'Donnell wrote: > > On 7/11/20 1:19 PM, Grant Youngman wrote: >> As a start, I’d recommend running through TX GAIN calibration using the KX3 >> Utility … > > Good suggestion. If a 2-meter module is installed, as is the case with mine, > I wonder if the automated calibration using the KX3 Utility flies through all > the bands including that one? I wouldn't want to start pressing buttons and > find out the wrong way. The reason for my concern is that I only have one > dummy load, the MFJ-260C. I'd like to get ahold of the Oak Hills Research > RFL-100 mentioned here recently, but unfortunately when I tried to order one > a few days ago his website said all sales had been suspended indefinitely due > to COVID. I guess I can either scrounge another dummy load, or do the > calibration band-by-band manually. > __ 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] KX3 power out
On 7/11/20 1:19 PM, Grant Youngman wrote: As a start, I’d recommend running through TX GAIN calibration using the KX3 Utility … Good suggestion. If a 2-meter module is installed, as is the case with mine, I wonder if the automated calibration using the KX3 Utility flies through all the bands including that one? I wouldn't want to start pressing buttons and find out the wrong way. The reason for my concern is that I only have one dummy load, the MFJ-260C. I'd like to get ahold of the Oak Hills Research RFL-100 mentioned here recently, but unfortunately when I tried to order one a few days ago his website said all sales had been suspended indefinitely due to COVID. I guess I can either scrounge another dummy load, or do the calibration band-by-band manually. Re Mark's questions about the Bird 43 and slugs, I do have an older Bird that I don't trust a great deal, but this one was bought new about a year ago, and the slugs are the same vintage or newer. I can try them out with other radios. As for Walter's point about the ATU, the results are mighty odd. I just set the KX3 to 40 meters with 15 watts out, appropriate slug in the Bird 43, set ATU to bypass and started keying. The power out dropped to about 5w. I then set ATU to auto and tapped the ATU Tune button. With the radio still set to 15w out, the Bird now peaked at about 25w! Is it plausible that antenna tuning activity within the KX3 could actually increase the TPO by ~5x? Or does that cast even more suspicion on the Bird? Frank __ 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] KX3 power out
You should not need an ATU with a dummy load. Put the ATU in bypass. Did you send dits or a constant carrier? I recommend using RTTY or FM to get a constant carrier. wunder K6WRU Walter Underwood CM87wj http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog) > On Jul 11, 2020, at 12:42 PM, Frank O'Donnell wrote: > > Always something else I remember just after hitting send. > > The KX3 is running off the Pro Audio Engineering PAE-Kx33 power supply, > plugged into the 9-15 vdc connector. > > On 7/11/20 12:40 PM, Frank O'Donnell wrote: >> After a fair time of non-use, today I got out my KX3 and started working >> through configuration checklists. Among other things I thought I'd check the >> power out. >> >> For this test I used a Bird 43 and MFJ-260C dummy load. For HF I used a Bird >> 2-30 MHz 25w element, and for 2m a 100-250 MHz 10w element. I put the KX3 in >> CW mode and keyed with the KXPD3 paddle. When changing to each HF band I hit >> the ATU Tune button. >> >> On 40m and 20m I found that with the Pwr knob set to 15w, the Bird showed >> about 8w out. With the Pwr knob set to 5w, the power out is about 3w. >> >> After changing the antenna port and Bird element, on 2m with the radio set >> to 3w the Bird shows about 2.5w out. >> >> Any thoughts on these results, or suggestions on other things to check? >> >> Thanks and 73, >> >> Frank K6FOD >> >> >> >> > > __ > 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 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX3 power out
As a start, I’d recommend running through TX GAIN calibration using the KX3 Utility … Grant NQ5T > On Jul 11, 2020, at 3:42 PM, Frank O'Donnell wrote: > > Always something else I remember just after hitting send. > > The KX3 is running off the Pro Audio Engineering PAE-Kx33 power supply, > plugged into the 9-15 vdc connector. > > On 7/11/20 12:40 PM, Frank O'Donnell wrote: >> After a fair time of non-use, today I got out my KX3 and started working >> through configuration checklists. Among other things I thought I'd check the >> power out. >> >> For this test I used a Bird 43 and MFJ-260C dummy load. For HF I used a Bird >> 2-30 MHz 25w element, and for 2m a 100-250 MHz 10w element. I put the KX3 in >> CW mode and keyed with the KXPD3 paddle. When changing to each HF band I hit >> the ATU Tune button. >> >> On 40m and 20m I found that with the Pwr knob set to 15w, the Bird showed >> about 8w out. With the Pwr knob set to 5w, the power out is about 3w. >> >> After changing the antenna port and Bird element, on 2m with the radio set >> to 3w the Bird shows about 2.5w out. >> >> Any thoughts on these results, or suggestions on other things to check? >> >> Thanks and 73, >> >> Frank K6FOD >> >> >> >> > > __ > 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 ghyoung...@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
Re: [Elecraft] KX3 power out
On Sat, Jul 11, 2020 at 12:41 PM Frank O'Donnell wrote: > > After a fair time of non-use, today I got out my KX3 and started working > through configuration checklists. Among other things I thought I'd check > the power out. > > For this test I used a Bird 43 and MFJ-260C dummy load. For HF I used a > Bird 2-30 MHz 25w element, and for 2m a 100-250 MHz 10w element. I put > the KX3 in CW mode and keyed with the KXPD3 paddle. When changing to > each HF band I hit the ATU Tune button. > > On 40m and 20m I found that with the Pwr knob set to 15w, the Bird > showed about 8w out. With the Pwr knob set to 5w, the power out is about 3w. > > After changing the antenna port and Bird element, on 2m with the radio > set to 3w the Bird shows about 2.5w out. > > Any thoughts on these results, or suggestions on other things to check? > >The KX3 is running off the Pro Audio Engineering PAE-Kx33 power supply, >plugged into the 9-15 vdc connector. Do you know that the Bird and slugs are good? Do you know that the dummy load is good? Bird meters, when they are calibrated, are specified at 5% of full scale, so +/- 1.25 W for the 25 W element and +/- 0.5W for the 10W element. Bird meters are rugged, but not really all that accurate. The dummy load should be 50 ohms resistive over the frequency range of interest. If they have been cooked, they often change. So, for two meters being off by 0.5W is within the calibration accuracy, even if the slug was calibrated. Slugs don't usually drift much though, unless cooked. Hams hardly ever calibrate their test equipment because it does cost a lot to do so, and it has to be done every year or two. In the case of the slugs, I think that calibration means measure and if bad, chuck it. The meter itself has a calibration, I believe. For 40M and 20m the readings are so different that it is likely something is wrong. Can you measure a different rig or with a different meter? 73, Mark W7MLG __ 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] KX3 power out
Always something else I remember just after hitting send. The KX3 is running off the Pro Audio Engineering PAE-Kx33 power supply, plugged into the 9-15 vdc connector. On 7/11/20 12:40 PM, Frank O'Donnell wrote: After a fair time of non-use, today I got out my KX3 and started working through configuration checklists. Among other things I thought I'd check the power out. For this test I used a Bird 43 and MFJ-260C dummy load. For HF I used a Bird 2-30 MHz 25w element, and for 2m a 100-250 MHz 10w element. I put the KX3 in CW mode and keyed with the KXPD3 paddle. When changing to each HF band I hit the ATU Tune button. On 40m and 20m I found that with the Pwr knob set to 15w, the Bird showed about 8w out. With the Pwr knob set to 5w, the power out is about 3w. After changing the antenna port and Bird element, on 2m with the radio set to 3w the Bird shows about 2.5w out. Any thoughts on these results, or suggestions on other things to check? Thanks and 73, Frank K6FOD __ 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] KX3 power out
After a fair time of non-use, today I got out my KX3 and started working through configuration checklists. Among other things I thought I'd check the power out. For this test I used a Bird 43 and MFJ-260C dummy load. For HF I used a Bird 2-30 MHz 25w element, and for 2m a 100-250 MHz 10w element. I put the KX3 in CW mode and keyed with the KXPD3 paddle. When changing to each HF band I hit the ATU Tune button. On 40m and 20m I found that with the Pwr knob set to 15w, the Bird showed about 8w out. With the Pwr knob set to 5w, the power out is about 3w. After changing the antenna port and Bird element, on 2m with the radio set to 3w the Bird shows about 2.5w out. Any thoughts on these results, or suggestions on other things to check? Thanks and 73, Frank K6FOD __ 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] K2 Permanent 8T volts enabled
Bob, I assume you also have 8R active at the same time - that is the usual case. I have encountered it a few times in the process of repairing over 1000 K2s. The problem source is usually on the Control Board. Check the voltage on the gate of Q3 - it should be zero during receive. Also check the gate of Q4. If both gates are at about 5 volts, then you have a problem with the MCU and it should be replaced. You could try a Master Reset, but it is unlikely to correct the problem. OTOH, if only one gate Q3 or Q4 is at 5 volts, then look for something that is putting the K2 into transmit. Should you find the gate of Q3 at zero volts, and you still have 8T active all the time, either Q3 is not conducting when it should or there is a problem with Q1 and the RP1 resistors. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/11/2020 12:57 PM, Robert Calver via Elecraft wrote: Hi Guys Anyone had a this fault? The radio was working fine until a day or so ago, now can hear noise, AF and RF gain pots work, but nothing from the antenna. If you inject signal at the anode of D6 RF board you can hear it, not on the cathode though - its being back biased by the permanent 8T volts? __ 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] K2 Permanent 8T volts enabled
Hi Guys Anyone had a this fault? The radio was working fine until a day or so ago, now can hear noise, AF and RF gain pots work, but nothing from the antenna. If you inject signal at the anode of D6 RF board you can hear it, not on the cathode though - its being back biased by the permanent 8T volts? Anyone experienced this? 73 Bob G4JGX __ 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] k2 receive cw tone raspy
__ 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
