[Elecraft] D-104 Mic Element Replacement
If you have a working, unamplified D-104, the solution to this is quite simple. Back in the 1990s, my transceiver was a TS-830S. I had a pre-citizens band D-104. These classic microphones were much heavier than the later ones and had a stamped serial number plate riveted to the head. The output of these microphones was very high and, when connected to an input with an impedance of a few tens of thousands of ohms, the frequency response was very strident. The Astatic data sheet for the D-104 contained a graph, with curves, which showed how a lower impedance load suppressed the mid range and bass response. Inside the base of the push to talk stand, I placed a 787 kilohm,, quarter-watt, metal film resistor in series with the hot side of crystal cartrige output. The D-104 no longer sounded shrill. The response was silky smooth, as determined by transmitting into a dummy load and recording the audio from a second transceiver. As a bonus, I could then run my mic gain at eleven o clock, rather than nine o clock. This made it much easier to set the mic gain properly, as the control was not so touchy. I was actively DXing, back then, and the slightly modified D-104 did a great job of breaking pileups. I was often complimented on my audio and often asked what microphone I was using. Gary, K0CX “Most D-104 mikes are not suited for use with today's radios.? The original D-104 was designed to work into a load impedance of 4 meg-ohms or higher.? Today's radios microphone input is about 50k ohms or so.?? The result is then excessive load on the D-104 element.? This is the major cause of frequency response issues. Bob McGraw” -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.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] On ground - in ground radials
A friend was installing a homebrew, two tower, vertical directional array in his back yard. His method of placing the copper wire radials below the surface of the ground was quite unusual. He slowly crept along the ground on his hands and knees, while pushing a skil-saw, with carbide blade, against the ground. After sawing a slot, he poked the wire in with a homemade, forked tool. Stomping on the ground closed the opening. I don’t recall how many carbide tipped saw blades it took. His neighbors were probably questioning his sanity. Gary, K0CX With regard to installing radials on the ground: I used a weed whacker configured as an edge trimmer to make a cut through the grass. Feed the radial wire in the slit and use staples as Bob suggests to secure the wire. In a month or so, the grass grows over the wire and poses no problem mowing. Ed Deichler -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.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] On ground - in ground radials
...”Digging in radials does not interest me. Likewise, catching them in lawn equipment is also a PIA. So, here is what I have done and it has worked well”... Tom, WB2KLD” I did something very similar, many years ago, after hombrewing a 40 meter vertical. In order to pin the copper wire radials to the ground, I used pegs, made from wood dowel. I bought some lengths of quarter-inch wood dowel and cut them into 2 inch lengths. One-half inch from the end of each, I drilled a hole, large enough to pass the radial wire. I threaded several pieces of dowel onto each radial wire. As I stretched each wire away from the antenna base, I pounded the pegs into the grass with a hammer. When finished, each radial was stretched tightly to the ground. On uneven ground more pegs are required to cause the wire to adhere to the terrain. Within a few weeks, the radials were no longer visible and I could mow over the radial field. My reason for using wood pegs was that they were non-conducting. Thus, there would be no possibility of electrolytic corrosion or rectification between dissimilar metals. Also, the wood pegs are, over time, biodegradable. The aluminum tubing vertical antenna worked very well, until an ice storm loaded the guy wires so heavily that it failed. The radials are probably still out there. Gary K0CX -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.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] Need Mic adapter: Icom SM-50 to K3 mic input jack
It appears that MFJ makes a box, designed to convert one brand’s mic connector to others. It appears to be programmable, using jumpers. I believe the Foster connectors on the K3 or K3S are wired the same as Kenwood’s. The model number is MFJ 1263. I have not used or seen one, so cannot comment on its utility. Gary K0CX I have no microphone for my K3. I am usually on CW or the digital modes. Now I want to get on the KY Phone Net on 3838. So I talked DXEngineering and they know of no adapter plug/cable. So, I have an Icom SM-50 mic and a Yaesu MD-100 mic. Anyone know of an adapter connector that would fit either to adapt them to the K3? Or maybe a universal box that lets me plug all the mic's in and have a cable to the K3 Also run an Icom IC-9700 FWIW. Bob KD7YZ __ 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] A or B?
An old friend, who has been inactive for several years, recently purchased a used K3. This is the first transceiver that he’s owned that includes a built in keyer. He has always operated CW with a straight key. He has acquired Vibroplex paddles and wants to know whether to set the radio’s keyer for mode A or mode B iambic. He has never used an iambic keyer or a bug, before. I learned iambic keying with a WB4VVF circuit board, back in the early 1970s, so mode B is what I prefer. I know there are a lot of died-in-the-wool CW people who frequent this list and I would like any opinions as to whether it is easier for a newbie to learn iambic mode A or mode B. I have no clue. Thanks in advance for any advice or opinions that I can pass along. Gary KzeroCX __ 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] Now looking for a K3S KTCXO3-1
A replacement K3S KTCXO3-1 is no longer available from Elecraft. Does anyone have a stable KTCXO3-1, surplus to their needs, that they would consider selling? Even a standard, plus or minus 5 ppm TCXO might possibly be an improvement. There are also some, alleged, KTCXO3-1 oscillator modules for sale on eBay for about 40 bucks. Has anyone had experience with any of these? Thanks, in advance, for any advice, opinions or admonishments. Gary, K0CX >IMHO and a nutshell, the TCXO isn't. >Wes? N7WS > Am I being overly critical, or do you think this is unusual behavior for a > KTCXO3-1? __ 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] K3S KTCXO3-1 possible problem
I have a K3S, purchased factory built, February 2019. This included the 1 ppm TCXO3-1-F option. A few months later, I noticed that SSB signals heard on 50.125.000 MHz all sounded a bit off frequency. Hence, I performed a reference oscillator calibration, using method 2. Because of my relatively short distance to WWV, the variability in the signal strength made its use difficult. Instead, I used a GPS disciplined TCXO as my 10 MHz standard. The GPSDO had been on for several hours before any calibration and the transceiver had been on for, at least, three hours. The frequency display on the K3S was set to 10.000.000 MHz. Beats were displayed on a Weston VU meter, driven by an opamp, connected across the external speaker output. This allows beats to be easily seen, that are less than one per second. The REF CAL as received from the factory was 49.379.766 On 7/10/2019, I changed the REF CAL setting to 49.379.448 (I chalked this change up to possible crystal aging.) On 11/30/2019, the REF CAL setting was changed to 49.379.110 On 3/1/2020 the REF CAL setting was changed to 49.378.926 On 1/16/2021 REF CAL was changed to 49.378.495 On 1/30/2021 REF CAL was changed to 49.378.484 On 2/22/2021 REF CAL was changed to 49.378.508 (the first time the setting has been increased) I have also noticed a change of several Hz in the beat note between the transceiver having been on for half an hour and having been on for three or four hours. This seems odd behavior to me for a high stability, 1 ppm TCXO. The transceiver is in a room, with a temperature of 70, plus or minus, 3 degrees Fahrenheit. There is nothing on top of the transceiver and there is plenty of space below, behind and on either side of the radio. There are no other heat sources near the transceiver. Am I being overly critical, or do you think this is unusual behavior for a KTCXO3-1? I posed this question to Elecraft tech support. The reply did not address my question as to whether this KTCXO3-1 is misbehaving. The reply only said that “We have no KTCXO3-1 and have no orders to restock at this time.” The tech, who replied, also gave me sourcing information for, apparently, the oscillator part on the board. Thanks in advance for any time taken to reply to my post. Gary, KØCX __ 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] Seeking comments on Ham Expo from participants
Agreed. Much better than I expected. And I never considered attending a hamfest, virtual or otherwise, to be a competitive sport. Gary, K0CX I thought the Expo was excellent overall...couldnt have cared less about trying to earn points and winning a prize. Grant NQ5T __ 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] Antenna tuners
You are in good company with Walter Maxwell, W2DU, now silent key. Maxwell was an engineer at RCA. He designed the antennas on several earth orbiting satellites and the antenna on the Lunar Rover. He explained this quite succinctly in his book Reflections (all three editions), by use of the conjugate matching theorem. As I recall, that chapter in his book (peer reviewed by the RCA engineering department) was called My Antenna Tuner Tunes My Antenna. Gary, K0CX But if the "tuner" is an LC network, like an adjustable L network, T network, Pi network, or a linked-coupled network, then I strongly disagree. A tuner is a 2-port network. A transmission line is also a 2-port network. Both networks obey reciprocity, meaning that what you do to one port of the network will have a direct influence on the opposite end. That being said, if an antenna exhibits a complex impedance at our frequency of interest, and that behavior can be corrected (brought to resonance) by the application of a particular value of reactance at the antenna's feedpoint, then that application of reactance can, for reasons of convenience, be made at the "shack end" of the transmission line. As such, the "tuner" in the shack is really "tuning" the antenna! John, KD2BD __ 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] Waterproof SO-239 covers
A similar concoction is readily available in the U.S. Depending on who manufactures it, the brand might be Penetrox, NoAlOx or OxGard. It is used by electricians to enhance aluminum to aluminum and aluminum to copper or brass electrical connections. Each of these products appears to be a mixture of a silicone based grease and powdered zinc metal. I have used such, between sections, when assembling an aluminum antenna. Before assembly, I apply the grease and use emery cloth to shine up the outer part of the inner tubing. I apply the grease to a wire brush made for plumbing and use that to clean the inside of the outer tubing. Aluminum is a very chemically reactive metal. It quickly forms an oxide that protects the surface from further reaction. Unfortunately, aluminum oxide is a pretty good insulator. By using the grease with the abrasion, the oxide is removed and the metal is protected from oxygen in the air during assembly. I find that this procedure prevents inte rmittent connections and makes future disassembly much easier. A friend had a multi band vertical antenna that was really flaky. The VSWR would change with the wind. We took his vertical apart and performed the antioxidant and abrasive treatment. His vertical worked reliably for years afterward. At one time, Mosley used to supply Penetrox with their beam antennas. A good move in my opinion. Gary, K0CX I cover the threads with a mixture of zinc and Vaseline anyway...I still use the zinc and Vaseline on threads though because it lubricates and the zinc helps conductivity a little, but my stock has all but gone. Steve, G4VRR __ 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] OT Good Source for Stainless Fasteners and
Stainless hardware is commonly used on FM broadcast antennas. Stainless is a bit on the gummy side. When tightened, the threads tend to distort and this can make future disassembly a challenge. Tower crews frequently end up twisting off nuts or bolt heads when replacing damaged elements. If you are going to use stainless hardware, I suggest applying anti-seize lubricant, available at auto supply stores, to reduce seizing and galling. I also suggest never reusing stainless hardware. Replace with new. Gary, K0CX “When using stainless hardware there is very little strength compared to a steel fastener. So the minimum strength needs to be confirmed. You don't want the bolts to shear and topple over. Please be careful to get the right grade bolts. You will not get what you need at a hardware store or a tractor supply. KD8NNU” __ 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] Latest on the new home for my K3...
I never rely on patch panels for bonding. They are simply, often a less expensive and more versatile substitute for coaxial switches. Unless one can afford several Bird, series 74 type coax switches, a patch panel is hard to beat for signal routing. The Bird series 74 switches have very good port to port isolation. So does a patch panel, if one uses good quality coax. I have long wondered how many hams have damaged the front end of a second receiver or transceiver, as a result of using coax switches with poor isolation. Many thanks to you, Jim, for all your time taken to educate folks with all the great material you have made available online and your frequent posts on this list. 73, Gary, K0CX >Patch panels are fine for signal routing (I also come out of broadcast), >but they cannot be relied upon for bonding because the bonding path is >FAR too long. Jim K9YC >>On 4/23/2020 8:38 AM, Gary Peterson wrote: >>I love patch panels. __ 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] Latest on the new home for my K3...
I almost forgot to mention that when making up the patch cables, use colored heat shrink on both ends of the outside of the coax, adjacent to the connectors. If there is a jumble of patches, it is much easier to quickly see what is patched to what. >I love patch panels. If anyone is planning a patch panel and does klutzy, >brain fart things like I occasionally do, maybe this will help. >Gary >K0CX __ 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] Latest on the new home for my K3...
I have been following this thread with interest. Years ago, I designed a patch panel for the ham shack. Knowing that I sometimes have a propensity to make stupid mistakes, being a retired broadcast engineer, and being a firm believer in the If anything can go wrong, it will club, I made the patch panel as foolproof as I could. All receivers and sources of RF terminate in N female, panel mount connectors. All loads, such as antennas or the dummy load terminate in SO239 panel mount connectors. All patch cables have an N male on one end and a PL259 on the other end. This prevents accidental feeding of high level RF from my K3S into my Collins 51J4 or feeding my 75A4, Viking Valiant combo into my amplified loop receive antenna. I love patch panels. If anyone is planning a patch panel and does klutzy, brain fart things like I occasionally do, maybe this will help. Gary K0CX >I am undertaking a full rebuild of my operating position, note the Patch >Panel does not say K3 on it... That means I can replace things with a >K4 later... >Dave (NK7Z) __ 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] 10 MHz reference osc. suggestion?
Does anyone have any recommendations for a particular 10 MHz GPS disciplined oscillator that would work well as an external reference for a K3S? I might also use a GPSDO as an external time base for my frequency counter. Either recommendations or products one should avoid would be most appreciated. Feel free to reply off list. Thanks in advance. Gary, K0CX kzer...@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] TCXO drift and calibration
You were very correct about my first number being bogus. I misinterpreted my notes. I should have been more careful, before posting. These are the correct REF CAL numbers As it came from Elecraft, it was set to 49.379.766 July 10 of this year, I changed it to 49.379.448 On November 30, I changed it to 49.379.110 Each calibration was done after the radio had been on for a couple of hours. I'm guessing that the TCXO drift is due to crystal aging and the amount of change will diminish with radio on time. Thanks to all who took the time to respond. Gary, K0CX “Your first number is bogus, but generally speaking if your other numbers are correct, that does seem excessive.? That said, crystals do age and some of this depends on power on/off cycles... I recently ran some drift tests and found that it takes about 25 minutes for my reference to settle to a point limited by measurement jitter... Wes N7WS” __ 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] TCXO drift and calibration
Last February, I purchased a factory assembled K3S including a 1 ppm TCXO. The transceiver is serial number 11803 and the firmware was updated on May 5th of this year. Last July, I noticed that many of the signals on 50.125 MHz sounded as if they were a bit off frequency as they were higher pitched. This led me to believe that the reference oscillator may have drifted, possibly due to crystal aging. Subsequently, I used method 2 and WWV, as described on page 53 of the Elecraft K3S manual. The REF CAL frequency was lowered from 49.999.996 to 49.379.448. That seemed to make the signals on the 6 meter calling frequency sound like they should. A few days ago, I caught a six meter opening and signals on 50.125 sounded higher pitched again. I repeated the reference oscillator calibration again, using method 2. Now, the REF CAL frequency is set to 49.379.110. I have not had the opportunity to hear any six meter signals, since I changed the reference oscillator. I am wondering if the REF CAL frequency change that I have seen in less than a year is normal, or whether I have a TCXO problem. Any thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance for any time taken to reply. Gary, K0CX Rapid City, SD __ 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's philosophy of community input on
Bravo! Standing and applauding. Gary, KØCX A relatively new K3s/P3 owner and very satisfied customer. “It has often been stated, by both Elecraft and our customers, that we leverage user input as we flesh out new products. In this article I'll clarify our development model, hopefully elevating it above hearsay. It's intentional and methodical. We like to think it's one of the things that makes Elecraft unique among well-known amateur radio brands.” __ 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] Will there be a K4
In the past few years, I have thought of a couple of desirable features that should be fairly easy to implement in a modern transceiver: First, a “back” or “undo” button, not unlike an Internet browser. Each press would undo the previous control change. This could eliminate the pregnant pause that follows a “fat-finger” or “oops,” while trying to figure out what the heck I just did that put the radio in a less-than-desirable condition. Being able to quickly undo the last three or four button presses would be really neat. Second, being able to program “transmit enable” for the amateur bands with one’s license/frequency/mode privileges. This would prevent someone with a general class license from transmitting LSB below 7178 or CW below 7025 in the 40 meter band. After the general class licensee upgrades to extra class, the radio would prevent them from transmitting LSB, below 7128, for example. Many times, I have heard amateurs accidentally transmitting outside their allocated sub-bands, in the “heat of the moment,” while chasing DX. Gary, KØCX “Inquiring minds want to know: What would you all like to see as a ?K4? ? Eric elecraft.com” __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
