[Elecraft] CW Sidetone lost
Greetings to the List - I am scratching my head on this. Lately I've been using my new hearing aid interface as a headphone accessory for my K-3. It is a small box (Phonak brand) that plugs into the K-3 headphone jack, and transmits the audio to my hearing aids via bluetooth. Works great - I enjoy listening to the bands, direct to my ears, without bothering the household, and avoiding some local noise interference. BUT - when I send CW, the sidetone is absent (and denies me the ability to listen to my transmission). This makes no sense. The sidetone is very present when I use regular passive headphones, or the K-3 speaker, with no adjustments to other settings. As soon as I plug the Phonak in, the sidetone is gone. All other receiver audio is coming through just fine. The problem occurs whether I am using straightkey or paddle. I'm assuming there's some kind of active voltage coming from the Phonak into the headphone jack but why does it only affect the sidetone? Reaching for the schematic... Bruce / KE1CY __ 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] Appropriate Mic for K3 (new)
Thanks to all for the good-spirited sharing of your "mic for K3" tips. Very, very helpful. And I see that it prompted a few other queries on the topic. 73! KE1CY On Sun, Dec 4, 2016 at 11:06 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire <r...@cobi.biz> wrote: > Fun is whatever is fun for you. If a nice looking new microphone is it, go > for it! > > Half a century ago when microphones were still hand-made the more expensive > ones were significantly better than the cheap variety. Considerably more > labor went into assembling each element, and more elements failed to meet > specs and so had to be discarded or reworked. > > But these days microphone manufacturing is entirely automated and a machine > can crank out endless identically-performing high-quality elements in a > tiny > fraction of the time a human could. It's also why you can buy a > first-quality wristwatch at an absurdly low cost today. > > A really fine microphone element can be bought for under USD$5. > > The rest of the cost is in the case, chrome, stand, etc., just as the cost > of the wristwatch is in its case and band. In both cases, the cost can be > anything from reasonable to the absurd. It's all in what you want to spend. > > 73, Ron AC7AC > > -Original Message----- > From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of > Bruce > Chadbourne > Sent: Sunday, December 4, 2016 6:24 AM > To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: [Elecraft] Appropriate Mic for K3 (new) > > Greetings - I've had my K3 for 5 years, mostly a CW and digital operator. > I've never done much with my microphone - just repurposing an Turner454X > crystal mic. I keep wondering if I'd be having more phun with a new > 'phone. > Without starting a holy war, perhaps a few of you could make a > recommendation as to a specific slightly-better-than budget model. > Better still, with Christmas coming, maybe you're eyeing a fancy upgrade > for > yourself and would like to sell me your modestly-priced pre-owned mic(?). > 73 to all, Merry Christmas > Bruce KE1CY @ arrl.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 r...@elecraft.com > > -- Bruce Chadbourne PgMP/BRMP 1034 W Beagle Run Loop Hernando, FL 34442 Office phone: 352-453-5456 If urgent, the best way to reach me is by phone. Thank you. __ 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] Appropriate Mic for K3 (new)
Greetings - I've had my K3 for 5 years, mostly a CW and digital operator. I've never done much with my microphone - just repurposing an Turner454X crystal mic. I keep wondering if I'd be having more phun with a new 'phone. Without starting a holy war, perhaps a few of you could make a recommendation as to a specific slightly-better-than budget model. Better still, with Christmas coming, maybe you're eyeing a fancy upgrade for yourself and would like to sell me your modestly-priced pre-owned mic(?). 73 to all, Merry Christmas Bruce KE1CY @ arrl.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
[Elecraft] K3 Enhancement?
Greetings to the group. I have been reading this month's QST article on the Flex-Radio series. It referred to a pan function in the audio output. The short story is this allows putting a DX station operating split in your left ear, and listening to the calling stations in your right ear. So just wondering out loud, short of having a second subreceiver in the K3 (which I do not have) - When operating Split, I know you can quickly switch between DX and calling stations by holding the REV button. The problem of course is you can only hear one or the other. Is it within reach of a simple software enhancement from our heroes at Elecraft to route these two audio signals to the left and right headphone channels from VFO A and B? (With a study of the schematic I suppose I could answer my own question, but figure a little brainstorming here in the group wouldn't hurt and might lead to something interesting...) Yours - Bruce / KE1CY __ 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] K3 HI Current Conclusion
To the group - closeout / lesson learned concerning the HI CUR warning. From Don W3FPR I contacted Elecraft support, and sorted things out. They asked me to confirm the tightness of the LPA screws on the bottom of the rig - I did that and they were secure. In the process of disconnecting everything to turn the rig upside down I realized the ground connection was quite loose. They also asked my to run the TX Calibration (5watt and 50watt) using the K3 utility. A few months back I had the inkling that it had been several years since doing that, but never followed-up. So I ran it and reported the results to Elecraft support. He (Howard) said the readings looked good and stated that running the cal check may have corrected the issue as I've had no repeat of the HI CURRENT warning. So I've now got a clean health check and am good to go, but will keep my eyes open. I also realized I was a little behind on updating my firmware; took care of same. Thanks all, Bruce / KE1CY __ 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] HI Current
Don, et. al. Thanks for the replies. I can repeat this problem (a good thing) at 20m CW around 14.115 Mhz. Power supply (Astron VS-35M, front panel meters) showing proper voltage, and current knob set toward max. At 14.050, SWR reads 1.0 on the K3. Power set at 100w. Voltage reads 13.8v, then with key down, K3 meter says 23 amps, voltage drops to 12.6vNo HI CUR warning. At 14.115, SWR still 1.0, 100 watts, 13.8v, put the key down, the HI CUR warning appears most of the time (so I can't read voltage/amp on K3 meter). One time it didn't show, and current was still 23-ish amps, and voltage 12.6; at which point I realized the rig had automatically reduced power from 100 to 88 watts. The ammeter on the Power supply reads about 17 amps at both freqs, with and without HI CUR warning. The power supply voltage meter does not show the deflection below 13v, stays rock steady. That seems to say the voltage drop under load is happening at the terminals or power cord Per your suggestion I checked the lugs on the back of the power supply - very firm, but I guess I'll disconnect the leads and clean them and repeat the test. I guess my question to the experts in the group: does a 1.2 volt drop at the rig sound normal at 100w? I am using the power lead that came with the K3 kit; it looks healthy, hasn't been out of the shack on any field day ops On Mon, Dec 15, 2014 at 4:20 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Bruce, I would expect a Hi REFL message rather than Hi Cur if SWR was the problem. Check your power supply connections. If you have bolts and nuts on the power supply output terminals, if the bolts turn (even slightly) when you tighten the nuts, you will have to dig inside the power supply to fully tighten the bolts to the lugs on the inside. With Elecraft gear, a low power supply voltage will result in a higher current draw from the power supply. Elecraft gear seeks to maintain the requested power output, and a low supply voltage means that the current must increase to maintain the power level. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/14/2014 4:18 PM, Bruce Chadbourne wrote: To the list: I occasionally get the Hi Current warning on my K3. I notice it cuts my power back about 10% from 100w. My initial assumption is that my SWR is too high - but the SWR meter is easily less than 2.0 I run the ATU which confirms SWR about 1.2 or so. So what am I missing - something bad in my transmission line? -- Bruce Chadbourne PgMP 1034 W Beagle Run Loop Hernando, FL 34442 352-453-5456 If urgent, the best way to reach me is by phone. Thank you. __ 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] HI Current
Gerry responded to me off-list (below). I think your Siri translation meant reseating all plugs on the K3 and and maybe Colex was coax. In response, yes I think I'm ok on those two points but will keep my eyes open. Interesting that a couple other guys are seeing this. So far I think it's only 20m; again, I'll have to keep a better system log. Somebody else mentioned the Anderson pole connector - I've been in good shape for several years so I expect it had been assembled correctly; but I'm wondering if the connector surfaces are known for oxidizing? Bruce / KE1CY I have not been following all of the messages in this thread, so if I am repeating something I am sorry. Have you checked grounds? Also have you checked to make sure that all of the Colex connectors are tight and have you tried receiving all of the plugs on the K-3? Thank you and Merry Christmas from WB6 I VfI am dictating this message through Siri, so I apologize for spelling and grammar. Sent from my iPhone this time On Tue, Dec 16, 2014 at 2:26 AM, Gerry leary gerrylear...@icloud.com wrote: I have not been following all of the messages in this thread, so if I am repeating something I am sorry. Have you checked grounds? Also have you checked to make sure that all of the Colex connectors are tight and have you tried receiving all of the plugs on the K-3? Thank you and Merry Christmas from WB6 I VfI am dictating this message through Siri, so I apologize for spelling and grammar. Sent from my iPhone this time On Dec 15, 2014, at 7:19 PM, Bruce Chadbourne bruce.chadbou...@gmail.com wrote: Don, et. al. Thanks for the replies. I can repeat this problem (a good thing) at 20m CW around 14.115 Mhz. Power supply (Astron VS-35M, front panel meters) showing proper voltage, and current knob set toward max. At 14.050, SWR reads 1.0 on the K3. Power set at 100w. Voltage reads 13.8v, then with key down, K3 meter says 23 amps, voltage drops to 12.6vNo HI CUR warning. At 14.115, SWR still 1.0, 100 watts, 13.8v, put the key down, the HI CUR warning appears most of the time (so I can't read voltage/amp on K3 meter). One time it didn't show, and current was still 23-ish amps, and voltage 12.6; at which point I realized the rig had automatically reduced power from 100 to 88 watts. The ammeter on the Power supply reads about 17 amps at both freqs, with and without HI CUR warning. The power supply voltage meter does not show the deflection below 13v, stays rock steady. That seems to say the voltage drop under load is happening at the terminals or power cord Per your suggestion I checked the lugs on the back of the power supply - very firm, but I guess I'll disconnect the leads and clean them and repeat the test. I guess my question to the experts in the group: does a 1.2 volt drop at the rig sound normal at 100w? I am using the power lead that came with the K3 kit; it looks healthy, hasn't been out of the shack on any field day ops On Mon, Dec 15, 2014 at 4:20 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Bruce, I would expect a Hi REFL message rather than Hi Cur if SWR was the problem. Check your power supply connections. If you have bolts and nuts on the power supply output terminals, if the bolts turn (even slightly) when you tighten the nuts, you will have to dig inside the power supply to fully tighten the bolts to the lugs on the inside. With Elecraft gear, a low power supply voltage will result in a higher current draw from the power supply. Elecraft gear seeks to maintain the requested power output, and a low supply voltage means that the current must increase to maintain the power level. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/14/2014 4:18 PM, Bruce Chadbourne wrote: To the list: I occasionally get the Hi Current warning on my K3. I notice it cuts my power back about 10% from 100w. My initial assumption is that my SWR is too high - but the SWR meter is easily less than 2.0 I run the ATU which confirms SWR about 1.2 or so. So what am I missing - something bad in my transmission line? -- Bruce Chadbourne PgMP 1034 W Beagle Run Loop Hernando, FL 34442 352-453-5456 If urgent, the best way to reach me is by phone. Thank you. __ 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 gerrylear...@me.com -- Bruce Chadbourne PgMP 1034 W Beagle Run Loop Hernando, FL 34442 352-453-5456 If urgent, the best way to reach me is by phone. Thank you. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net
[Elecraft] HI Current
To the list: I occasionally get the Hi Current warning on my K3. I notice it cuts my power back about 10% from 100w. My initial assumption is that my SWR is too high - but the SWR meter is easily less than 2.0 I run the ATU which confirms SWR about 1.2 or so. So what am I missing - something bad in my transmission line? -- Bruce KE1CY __ 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] K3 and JT65
Hi Mike, great question and I look forward to other answers. The one about page 9 of the operating manual was a good reminder for me. My answer is more from experience - for digital modes in general, I've stayed under 50 watts and had good results (and hearing the K3 cooling fans stepping up an extra notch always reminds me to behave myself). A few of our brothers use too much power and splatter their signal across the spectrum. Good operating practice calls for using minimum power necessary anyway, and it's always fun to see a QSO where someone reports using 20 watts (i.e. for PSK). The whole point of digital is the ability to transmit long distance with low power and 100% readability. On occasion a QRP station works me and I take the hint - dial power down to 5 watts and we're doing just fine. My best story - working JT65, from New Hampshire with a New Zealand station - we were doing fine, kept dialing back the power, until we finally lost each other at 100 milliwatts. Almost perfect copy at 500 milliwatts, and by the way I had a poor vertical antenna. It reminded me as a kid having a toy CB walkie-talkie that operated at 100 mW... never worked NZ with that thing. BTW - it would be great to have more of us out there experimenting with the digital modes; I am still fascinated with all of the digital options (I'm using fldigi software). The K3 operates great with fldigi. I also find the K3UK webpage a great meeting place (there is a dedicated subpage for digital modes). -- Bruce / KE1CY Hernando, FL __ 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 and JT65
PS - Mike, my apologies, I missed the part of your note that said you were operating without the KPA100. I hope my answer was still useful. I have no problems operating digital modes at a full 10w. -- Bruce / KE1CY __ 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] SSB QRP
To several who posted their interest in the K3 QRP experiences let me add several anecdotes from last night alone. I heard a South American SSB station calling QRP - I had no trouble hearing him at all here in New Hampshire - I called back at 100w repeatedly and he never heard me although he worked several US stations. A short while later I was working Australia, 12m JT65. We had such an easy time of it we dialed down the power - I was working him with 1/2 watt with my G5RV antenna (he had a dipole). Isn't propagation wonderful! And isn't the K3 a nice tool. In the last year or so with the K3 I have had several good experiences of dialing down the power and still working some great DX, including SSB. I have plans to move into an antenna-restricted community (with some serious concerns about operability), but I believe I'd rather have fun overcoming that hardship with some stealth and a good pair of K3 ears, rather than with the braun of a tower and the full legal power limit. (Now, if we could only convince those illegal, foul-mouthed yahoos on 20 and 40m to go QRP!) Bruce / KE1CY -- Bruce Chadbourne 8 Forest Dr Merrimack NH 03054 __ 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] Troubel TX on K3
Dear Karl - I believe I have a spare CAT Cable in my scrap bin if that will solve future problems of this type HI HI :) Bruce / KE1CY Message: 10 Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:15:12 +0200 From: Karl-Heinz - DL2FAG dl2...@arcor.de Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Troubel TX on K3 To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 11722367.20120412161...@arcor.de Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-15 Hello the problem is solved - the problem has been raised not due to any configsetting and macros - it was my cat, which was walking behind the radio. And over her cable-walk she has removed parts of the cables between the different units. So after I replaced and secured all cable again - everything is working well again. So finally I put up a Cat-Stop-note at the shack-table, hihi Thanks everybody for their hints... 73 Karl DL2FAG -- Bruce Chadbourne KE1CY 8 Forest Dr Merrimack NH 03054 603-429-2943 __ 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] ARRL CW DX Contest
Just had to say - I had a blast with my K3 in this weekend's contest - I'm not one to lead the pack, but surpassed my expectations and set a respectable score I'll shoot to exceed next year. A lot of high power rigs out there and the K3 got a lot of respect running 100 watts (G5RV antenna). All of the K3/P3 features got a good workout - I gained code speed and operating proficiency. Thank you Elecraft! -- Bruce Chadbourne KE1CY Merrimack NH __ 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] SWL Spotting software?
As the caller says on talk radio long time first time... - I love this reflector, finally have something to toss into the ragchew... With the K3's KBF3 general coverage receiver (and the K3's excellent receive capabilities) I hope to chase some interesting DX of the non-Ham type. After all I got my start in this hobby as a teenage SWL 40 years ago. Recently I've been enjoying N1MM software features with the DX-cluster via telnet and the thought occurs to me: is there a corresponding dx-cluster program for short wave listeners? If there is - would someone please advise ASAP. Imagine - a low-power pirate shortwave station coming on line - and the telnet cluster quickly alerting others to tune in. By the way I have not purchased the KBF3 yet but this would put me over the edge in a hurry... -- Bruce Chadbourne KE1CY 8 Forest Dr Merrimack NH 03054 603-429-2943 __ 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
