Re: [Elecraft] P3 VGA - How to use it

2012-03-27 Thread K8TB
Ah, just wait. Aptos will be showing the P3 VGA-TS, for Touch Screen 
interface ;)

 tom k8tb

On 3/27/2012 9:40 PM, ai6ii wrote:
 Impressive as the P3 Large Screen version is to look at, I wonder what it is
 like to use. That is, with the P3 and mini screen, my eyes are viewing the
 screen and the controls in close proximity. I can watch my finger press the
 FN3 (set to center the MRK A),

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Re: [Elecraft] Remote Rig without local K3 ?

2012-02-25 Thread K8TB
Jim,

 If one K3 is at the remote site, you can easily run it using the 
RemoteTRig and HRD. I was doing that for quite a few years. Once you get 
your second K3, and have that at your house, you can continue to run the 
remote K3 the same way, or have the local K3 control it. If you never 
plan to actually need to operate the 2nd K3, it would be cheaper to buy 
the K3/0.

My excuse? I have to buy the K3/0, as local K3 is being taken over by in 
shack QRM from K8AJ !

 tom k8tb



On 2/24/2012 12:08 AM, Jim Miller KG0KP wrote:
 I am considering a second K3 and wondering if I can use the Remoterig system
 with a computer and HRD/DM780 but without the K3 or K3-0 on the local end
 until I can afford the second K3 or do I need to wait until I can get the
 second radio?

 Will it do digital as well or is there timing or something from the local
 rig required for the digital operation?

 Thanks es 73, de Jim KG0KP



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Re: [Elecraft] K3/0

2012-02-16 Thread K8TB
Thor,

 Elecraft was hoping to have the K3/0 on the web site last week, and 
they apologized about missing last week, and they now hope it is this week.

I am fortunate in that I have two K3's, one at my remote site and one 
locally at home. When Elecraft came out with the firmware to link the 
two, well, I felt like a 5 year old year. I had the total control of the 
K3 remote. I had been using HRd and TRX. Nice programs, but hard to beat 
twisting the knobs.

Hang in there, should be real soon.

 tom K8TB


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Re: [Elecraft] Fw: HRD for rig control

2012-01-20 Thread K8TB
If you are using a RemoteRIg type of remote control, you may have a 
problem in turning the K3 on by remote control if there is a power 
failure at the remote site. At my site, I have a multi channel remote 
control that connects to the ACC pin 8, so I can turn it on from anywhere.

However, I have another site that I am looking at putting a K3 at (I 
haven't run out of excuses yet!)  At that site, I am going to have a 
simple SPDT 12 vdc relay, with the coil connected to the accessory 12 
vdc jack on the back of the K3. This is powered by the K3 on/off 
circuit. Then tie the comman contact of this relay to your incoming PTT 
control lead (coming from the RemoteRig box if you would). Tie the 
normally closed contact to the pin 8 of the ACC jack. Tie the normally 
open contact to your K3 PTT lead. Now, if the K3 is off, the relay is 
relaxed, and when you key your local mic at home, the PTT signal will 
trigger the K3 on circuit. The relay pulls in, and the PTT lead now 
controls the K3.

 tom k8tb


On 1/17/2012 4:26 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
 Miguel,

 The K3 can be powered off by software command - send it PS0; to turn
 off.  The K3 cannot respond to commands while it is powered off, but you
 can pull the Remote Power On pin to ground by some other external device
 (ACC pin 8) then the K3 will turn on.
 If the software you are using implements the PS0; command, you can turn
 the K3 power off. I do not know if HRD implements that command or not.

 73,
 Don W3FPR


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - remote (revenue opportunity?)

2012-01-17 Thread k8tb
Iain,

 I sometimes run an SDR-IQ tied to the IF of my remote K3. I am 
using UltraVnc when I do this (rig control and audio is with the 
RemoteRig). With a half size window, I am OK with buffering etc, but if 
myself or my wife loads a largish web page, I get audio stuttering on 
the remoterig. I am looking to put a router behind my ATT Uverse router, 
so that I an prioritize the audio and remote control packets.

 I have to turn the computer on at the remote site to run the SDR-IQ 
software of course. But the display is nice to have. And thats my excuse 
:)

  tom k8tb with 2 k3's and a k3/0 on deck...



On Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:34:20 -0800, iain macdonnell - N6ML wrote:
 VNC isn't really usable for something as graphically-intensive as a
 panadapter display. I run CW Skimmer on my remote station, accessed
 with VNC, and have to keep the window very small to prevent the VNC
 session from choking, and I have Mbps of bandwidth.

 I've been toying with the idea of trying to tunnel the I/Q audio over
 a stream and rendering it in a panadapter / skimmer instance running
 at the control point, but haven't gotten around to trying it.

 ~iain / N6ML

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Re: [Elecraft] K3/0

2012-01-16 Thread k8tb
Gregg,

If you are using a local (in shack) K3 to control the remote K3, then 
the answer is no, that local K3 is now just a control head for the 
remote K3.

With the K3/0, this will be a seperate box, and if you have a local and 
a remote K3, then you will be able to use both at once, if you have a 
K3/0 in the shack along side the local K3. I am looking forward to this. 
I am crrently using my local K3 to control the remote K3. Works 
amazingly well. Really nice to turn knobs and push buttons, rather than 
pushing a mopuse around, which I've done for three years.

The K3/0 is supposed to be anounced within a few weeks.

tom bosscher K8TB


On Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:20:48 -0500, Gregg Marco W6IZT wrote:
 With the K3 remote functionality, will it be possible to receive on 
 the
 remote K3 and transmit on the local K3?



 Gregg

 W6IZT

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Re: [Elecraft] open wire feeders

2011-12-31 Thread K8TB
I have a balanced fed balanced length dipole. The dipole sits atop 
40' of rope guyed fiberglass pole. 55 feet on each side. About 45 feet 
of 450 ohm balanced line comes into the far end of the back side of the 
house into one of my 7 , um, junk/storage rooms! There I have a 4:1 
balun, which then hits a LDG RT-11 antenna tuner. The RT-11 is a remote 
controlled tuner.  A little control sits in the shack. I tap the tune 
button on the K3, tap the tune button on the little LDG box and the 
tuner works.

 I don't know what the experts or Enzec says about this antenna, but 
I'll tell you that it works, and very well. So much so that I have a 
second copy of it in a plastic box in the garage that is used on field 
day. Anyone who uses that antenna at field day is very impressed. I have 
about 60 feet of rg-8x from the shack to the remote antenna tuner. Zero 
RF in the shack, ever. No chokes on any feed line. And it has worked K5C 
and VP6DX and others on all bands from 80 to 10. I have no idea how the 
success ratio is divided between the antenna and K3!

 Now, maybe we can build a simple interface to the KAT500 tuner to 
convert its need to communicate to the K3 to a balanced rs-485 
configuration. That would allow us to remote the tuner hundreds of feet. 
I would then use that at my remote base site.

 But that antenna does work.

 Tom K8TB




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[Elecraft] K3 MCU 4.47 Merry Christmas to me!

2011-12-23 Thread K8TB
 So I go to have a holiday lunch with a bunch of hams, and I sit 
across from fellow K3'r Paul, NF8J. We are a talking away, and I mention 
something about my remote base, and Paul tells me (I've been off this 
reflector for a while), that the K3 can now work with the RemoteRig. I 
was a little puzzled, as I use the RemoteRig with my K3, driving the 
home unit with my home computer and a copy of TRX.
Nope Paul sez, there was something on the reflector. So I come home, 
and read up on firmware 4.47.
 Well, let's update both K3's, the one at home and the one at the 
remote base. Update the RemoteRig firmware at both ends, and then make 
up a simple rs-232 null-modem cable.
 Well, look at this. No mouse mouse dragging. Turn this knob, and 
the remote site K3 totally obeys.

*This Is Way Cool!*

  Wayne, Eric et al, thank you for the Christmas Present.

   Now, the only problem is with K8AJ wanting to use it. Hmmm.

  73 to all, de tom bosscher K8TB

p.s., Eric and Wayne, I would LOVE to be able to buy just a front panel 
with a simple rs-232 interface, so I can use the remote base while K8AJ 
uses the local K3. Or the other way around if she wants to. :)


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 remote operation

2010-02-14 Thread K8TB
Bill,
 I have a K3 that sits 13 miles away from me. It remotes very well. 
There are several ways to remote the K3, or any rig. You can use a 
computer at the remote site, and use Logmein or the likes for 
controlling the computer and then use Skype or IP Sound for audio. That 
works, but there are practical limitations.
 I use the Remote Rig 1258MkII, made in Sweden. 
http://www.remoterig.com/
 I then use either Ham Radio Deluxe or TRX to drive the Remote Rig 
which then talks to the K3.. The nice thing about the Remote Rig, is 
that you really don't need a computer at the remote site. Here, with 
electricity around 8 cents/khw, leaving a computer on 24/7 will cost 
around $ 60 a year. Also, the Remote rig has its own audio path, 
essentially 3 channels of data/rs-232, and, most important to me, a 
dedicated PTT line. I like to use a hand switch (old nurse call button) 
or the foot switch, Right now the K3 is only on 6 meters. I have a 40 
foot tower with a M2 5 element on it, but the tower is on the highest 
hill in the area, whereas I live at river height, about 350 feet lower.
   By trade I am a radio broadcast engineer, so I remote control a lot 
of stuff. I can turn the computer at the site on and off, switch audio 
and control around, from home, or if I am on the road, from my laptop.
 Best story is when I was in Texas on work once (I am in Michigan), 
and I listened into my remote from Texas, and six was open to Texas. 
But, I head K8AJ working the Texans, so I called her. Freaked her out! 
(K8AJ is my lovely wife, who bought me my first Elecraft for my 50th 
birthday!).

If your friend or anyone else has any questions using the Remote Rig 
with the K3, I would be very happy to help off list.

 Tom K8TB



On 2/13/2010 11:13 PM, NZ0T wrote:
 I have a friend that is considering the K3, Omni VII and the FT-2000.  Easy
 remote operation is important to him.  I think he prefers the K3 but I can't
 help him with how easy it is to remote with the K3 as I haven't tried it nor
 do I have any interest.  I would appreciate any input that I can forward on
 to him.


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[Elecraft] For Sale: Elecraft K2 DSP Card KDSP2

2010-02-14 Thread K8TB
 I have a KDSP2 card for the K2 for sale. I have the manual, and I 
will sell it for $ 170, including shipping via USPS, to the US and 
Canada only. I take Paypal.

 Please contact me off list.

 Tom K8TB


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Re: [Elecraft] For Sale: Elecraft K2 DSP Card KDSP2... Is Sold

2010-02-14 Thread K8TB
The KDSP2 has been sold, thank you ... tom K8TB


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Re: [Elecraft] Ethernet to Serial Converter

2009-12-10 Thread K8TB
Lyle,

I have tried out a pair of these, and hope to have them in service 
real soon. A pair of boxes is around $ 400 US, and has bi-directional 
audio, two (2) sets of rs-232 and built in PTT contact closure. That 
dedicated PTT is very nice as with most remote base operations you have 
to keep clicking on the PTT buttons on the remote screen to assert PTT. 
I prefer a hand or foot switch.
I have a K3 that sits about 14 miles away from my house, that is the 
highest point around, just for a 6 meter ssb remote base. I have a M2 5 
element beam up 40 feet, and that hill puts that antenna 350 feet above 
my head. I use HRD and TRX for remote control.

With the RemoteRig box, (each box is the size of a packet TNC), you 
do not really need a PC at the remote site. I still will, as I decode 
the digital signals there (FSK411/wsjt etc). Once I have the boxes in 
place, I will report more on them. But the price/benefit ratio is very 
good.  And they work very well with the K3, which is the important part!

Lyle Johnson wrote:
 See  URL:http://new.remoterig.com/en/index.htm 

 Their solution includes data and audio over Ethernet.  They also mention 
 support for CW.

 I've never tried the product, but it looks intriguing...

 73,

 Lyle KK7P
   

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Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 Distorted Sound while using AM, now, speaking of AM..

2009-12-07 Thread K8TB
Speaking of AM. There is a group that runs a weekly AM net on 50.400 
here in West Michigan. Almost all are using vintage tube gear, which is 
OK, but I would like to check in with the K3. Right now, all I have is 
the 2.7 KHz SSB filter, and I can listen to them, but these radios are 
many times 2-4 kHz off frequency, so I have to tune around. Time to get 
a filter so I can transmit.

So would I do better in listening and transmitting with the 6 or the 
13 Khz filter? I won't have the low band interference like I would on 
75. And doesn't the K3 limit the audio response on TX to around 3 Khz?
   
Anyone else spend any amount of time on 6 AM?

  73 de tom K8TB

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Re: [Elecraft] P3 Photo

2009-08-15 Thread K8TB
My only advice before it goes to production:

   Make the cabinet 1 wider, and stack some band buttons there. 
Maybe 2 wider with a bunch of programmable buttons that we can forget what 
they are programmed for.
Loop the rs-232 signal through this box to send the band change commands.

   And then it will be the P3AAA !

   tom bosscher K8TB



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Re: [Elecraft] [LP-PAN] Re: K3 Overload from WYFR

2009-06-14 Thread K8TB
An AM station can easily produce buckshot  to 40-50 kcs's out. The 
reason you don't hear it very often in the US, is that on the standard 
AM band, the AM stations are very bandwidth limited. The NRSC curve is 
rather tight, and every AM station has to certify it is within that mask 
every 14 months or so.
I'm not sure of this, but I think US shortwave stations are not 
required to have any NRSC type filtering. Hence, the buckshot can go a 
long ways.

Disconnect the LP-PAN, and measure/estimate the signal strength of 
the buckshot at, say, 7005. Now, turn on the attenuator. If the level of 
the buckshot drops by the level of the attenuator, then the radio 
station is producing the buckshot. If the attenuated level drops 2 to 5 
times more than the added attenuation, that then shows that the K3 is 
overloading.

My Sunday night guess? The station is producing the buckshot. Just 
an increase of .3 Db drive after the audio limiter can make just about 
any transmitter produce garbage.

Tom Bosscher  K8TB  broadcast engineer for 3.5 decades...


Steve Ellington wrote:
 Lyle: Yes I do believe the LP-PAN is being overloaded but still, I do hear 
 that buckshot modulation from WYFR up to about 7010kHz on the K3 so it too is 
 being affected although not as much. 
   

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 remote control

2009-06-06 Thread K8TB
Art,

It looks like you have a pc at the remote site. What you need is a 
parallel relay board, like this one: 
http://www.electronickits.com/kit/complete/elec/ck1601.htm   . Wire up 
one of the relays to the remote on   pin of the K3. You will find out 
that most cpu's will trigger all the relays on when you power up, and 
the relays will stay on, until driven by a program. The really good news 
is that Simon has a program to control the parallel port in his HRD 
program. Its called parallel control! You can now use those other 
relays to control antenna relays and the like at the site.

I use the parallel program to turn the K3 on, and switch antennas.

I use HRD and IpSound. Works OK. But I am looking at the device made 
in Sweden, the RemoteRig. If you have a Kenwood TS-480, the control head 
is actually at your remote (office in your case) location.

Now, we just have to get Elecraft to produce a K3 front panel that 
sends out all the front panel commands as an RS-232 string, and then I 
could have the feel of the K3 at home. BTW, my second K3 is used only as 
a 6 meter SSB/digital modes remote base.

tom K8TB

k...@aol.com wrote:
 I'm setting up my station to be able to remotely operate from the office (yes 
 from work!). I have a web power switch that allows me to turn equipment on 
 and off via the internet. But it appears that isn't the recommended method 
 for the K3.

 The K3 manual?has a reference to turning the radio's power on and off 
 remotely by grounding pin 7 on the ACC connector.Then the manual states that 
 the controller must send the K3 a PS0 remote control command via the RS232 
 interface. Then deactivate the POWER ON signal.

 Has anyone had any experience in doing this? In particular, what is the basic 
 code to send the 'PS0 mentioned?

   
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[Elecraft] K3 xv144 vx432 question

2009-05-27 Thread K8TB
So if one were to buy an XV144, and a XV432, could they be tied into 
a K3 with a sub receiver so you can operate full duplex, to work the 
satellites? I would just love to see a K3 work with SATPC32 or HRD to do 
the birds.

tom K8TB

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Re: [Elecraft] K3: N1MM for Field Day

2009-05-11 Thread K8TB
If I may, there is a very simple, yet effective field day only 
logging program:

http://www.qsl.net/kc8opv/squirl-fd/

Very free. Run it on old laptops, it works just fine.

tom K8TB

p.s., runs very well with K1's, K2's and K3's :)
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[Elecraft] OT, but not really...

2009-04-27 Thread K8TB
Make sure you check out Google today.

It's somebodies birthday.

   de tom K8TB


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Re: [Elecraft] Whaddayaknow... passed the Extra...OT

2009-03-12 Thread K8TB
I've taught two general and two extra class classes. I love doing 
it. I've also taught the tech class's, but the general and extra are 
fun. Those taking the class get very committed to not failing their 
classmates. Last Extra class I had 10 students, all ten took and passed, 
including one ham who is blind.
One of the best nights I've ever had in ham radio.

And yes, when asked about rigs, Elecraft comes up first!

   tom bosscher K8TB


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Re: [Elecraft] remote on off of K3

2009-02-06 Thread K8TB
Don,

Wayne has the answer on how to turn the K3 off via remote control. 
Are you going to operate the K3 in the shack, or at a remote base? If a 
remote base, there are other items you should look at.
The number one guarantee is that something will lock up. I had an old 
Windows 2000 PC with too little memory, and it locked up on me with HRD 
DM-780 transmitting PSK on 6 meters. At 50 watts. It took me 45 minutes 
to get to the site. The K3 was just fine. Course, the remote shack was 
at 20 degrees F !
But at a remote base site, things happen.
I Installed a router at the site, that takes a redirected port to an 
AC power box, a IP Power 9258. One good news/bad news about this box is 
that it does not remember what state the relays were in if there is a 
power failure. I have other larger and more expensive units I use at 
remote broadcast transmitters sites that remember the power state. With 
the router and this AC box, I can cycle the power to the computer, and 
to the Astron power supply that feeds the K3. In any remote base 
location, make sure you modify the BIOS so that the cpu power is in the 
last state. That is, if the cpu is on, and the AC drops, it will power 
back up. Now, how to get the K3 back on? Been there ;) Buy a cheap 
parallel port relay board, like this one: 
http://www.electronickits.com/kit/complete/elec/ck1601.htm   . Wire up 
one of the relays to the remote on   pin of the K3. You will find out 
that most cpu's will trigger all the relays on when you power up, and 
the relays will stay on, until driven by a program. The really good news 
is that Simon has a program to control the parallel port in his HRD 
program. Its called parallel control! You can now use those other 
relays to control antenna relays and the like at the site.
And the last thing I installed was a digital Intermatic timer, # 
DT-17C. Everyday at 2am, I have it drop the power to my remote base rack 
for 1 minute. This resets the router, which if it locks up, you are in 
for a long trip. In my case, when the power comes back 1 minute later, 
the AC controller does not supply power to the computer or the K3 power 
supply, so they stay off until I command them so via that controller. 
This works well, keeps the cpu and K3 off when I'm not using it, which 
keeps the power cost down. (My remote base is at a repeater site, of 
which a club pays for the power, so we want to keep that power bill down).

So I can dial up the site, turn on the K3, and run it using HRD. 
Works very well.

tom K8TB




Don Greenbaum wrote:
 Just downloaded HRD and it controls the radio just fine, HOWEVER, there is no 
 CAT connection when the radio is off rendering HRD useless from a remote 
 location.

 Anyone know how to remotely turn on the K3 from the desktop?  (I use logmein 
 to see it).

   

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[Elecraft] K2 Items for sale, KPA100,KDSP2, more

2009-01-11 Thread K8TB
It was a snowy Michigan Sunday afternoon. I was digging around for 
something in one of 87 storage areas in the basement, when I came across 
a box of items leftover from the K2's that I owned.

What I have for sale:

KPA100 amplifier mounted inside EC2 enclosure. Built. Includes 
manual, DC power cord, BNC to BNC double shielded cable to connect the 
KPA100 to the K2, special DB-9 cable to connect KPA100 to the K2, and a 
very special 3 way DB-9 adapter, that plugs into the K2, and has three 
separate pigtails to go to your shack computer, the KPA100, and a XV 
transvertor if you have one. Avoids that Oh-oh moment of plugging in a 
full RS-232 DB-9 into the K2.
I will sell this package for $ 300, plus $ 15.00 for shipping and 
insurance. U.S. and Canada sales only please.

KDSP2, built, $ 160 plus $ 5 shipping/insurance.

KNB2   unbuilt, $ 25 plus $ 5 shipping

K160RX, unbuilt, $ 25 plus $ 5 shipping

KIO2, built, installs in the K2. Needed for computer control, or for 
the external KPA100 above.
 $ 70 plus $ 5 shipping.

BL2 Balun, unbuilt, $ 22.00 plus $ 5 shipping.

Please, US and Canada sales only. I can take Paypal or US postal 
money orders.

Please reply direct and no through the forum.

Tom Bosscher K8TB

k...@bosscher.org



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Re: [Elecraft] XKeys Software Support for K2 / K3

2009-01-06 Thread K8TB

Mike and others:

   It really is impressive to have this box along side the K3. Mike, I 
finally figured out how to program it, and I can write up a step by step 
install guide.


But to the others, programming the software that Mike has is really 
rather easy. Any button can be used for any function. I like 6 meters a 
lot, so I have about 4 frequencies dialed in, each with their own 
button. Another button brings me to 14.070, data mode, for PSK use. 

   If I get time, I may post some pictures of the box on my website. 
But I will guarantee you, 58 keys is a lot, and they can do anything the 
K3 can receive via the rs-232 port.


  tom K8TB




Mike McLendon wrote:

58 keys is a lot!  Too much for me in my operating but a good device 
to test software.  Other devices with fewer keys could be more useful.
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[Elecraft] Only Slightly OT....The times, they're a changing, and frequency also..

2008-12-31 Thread K8TB

Interesting note:

After seventy years of broadcasting Canada's official time,
NRC's shortwave station CHU will move the transmission frequency
for the 7335 kHz transmitter to 7850 kHz.
The change goes into effect on 01 January 2009 at 00:00 UTC.

Link at http://inms-ienm.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/main_e.html

  We also have a leap second right then..

  tom K8TB




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Re: [Elecraft] Re: K3 Panadaptor/Bandscope

2008-12-29 Thread K8TB

Ha, And who says there is no Santa Claus? He's only 4 days late!

   Hmm. Maybe an anniversary gift from K8AJ?

  Thanks for the note Wayne!
  
Tom K8TB


wayne burdick wrote:
  Yes, definitely, unequivocally.
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Re: [Elecraft] 6 meters

2008-12-23 Thread K8TB
   Something is not right, and a tip off is that two rigs have 
problems. Are you using the EXACT same cable to connect your 6 meter 
antenna to the 3 rigs? Are you using any relays or coax switches? I've 
been to a few shacks where the ham claims a brand new rig is junk. 
Twice, the jumper from their A/B was junk. There is no way the K3 would 
only hear the friend with an amp real weak.  One guys shack had a bad 
jumper, that worked when you had it going to right, but not stretched to 
the left!
   The Elecraft Noise Generator is worth its weight in gold and 
platinum. Gives you a real quick check on reality.


   Please double check your setup, very carefully.

   tom k8tb



Phil LaMarche wrote:
One of the reasons I purchased a K3 was to have a superior 6 meter 
rig.  I have 5 elements at 85 ft.  A friend about 12 miles away was 
working all kinds of stations and I can't hear a single one and his KW 
was very faint with an antenna at 85 ft.  My Flex 5000A didn't work on 
6 meters as well and the Pro III heard everything.
 


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[Fwd: Re: [Elecraft] K3 and the digital modes]

2008-12-08 Thread K8TB

On a slightly different note, if you have problems with different
levels with different audio cards for different programs, take a look at 
this program:


http://www.romacsoftware.com/SoundManagement.htm

Very clever. It detects what program you are using and what audio card 
is requested and resets audio levels to where you want them. I can't 
tell you how many times my sound cards have been hijacked by some other 
program, and I have to go back and reset the Windows level set. If the 
program works for you, he only is asking a $ 10 donation.


  tom K8TB




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Re: [Elecraft] QST Review: Minor Quibble

2008-11-26 Thread K8TB
   I used a Griffin Power Knob, using N4PY software on the K2. Now, 
Mike, KE4U, has written software for using the Griffin Tuning Knob and 
the K3. I found with the K2 it was very useful to be able to move the 
Knob around the table, and not have to reach up to the rig. Maybe this 
should be looked at by some. (Mike, I have to dig through 85+ boxes in 
the basement storage area to find my Powermate!). I would like to try 
it myself.


   Please note that this solution requires the $ 45 Powermate and your 
shack computer. It has a way cool blue LED glow from the bottom. K8AJ 
really likes that!


The Powermate is shown at:

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powermate

   tom K8TB


Rob May wrote:
I came over from a 718 also. I tune with my left thumb with the rest 
of the hand resting on the table and the fingertips on the bottom of the 
radio. ..

Coming to the K3 from an ICOM IC-718 I had grown accustomed
to using my thumb in the swiveling dimple on that machine's tuning knob.

However, the tuning knob is too close to the power and width 
controls. I tune

with my left hand and found myself hitting those controls a lot.
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 AFSK RTTY overdrive - no ALC

2008-11-23 Thread K8TB
One other thought. Are you using the line out to drive your soundcard? 
And if so, is your monitor level turned up on the K3? And if so, is 
anything in your computer, digital mode software, allowing the incoming 
sound card audio to be mixed with the outbound audio? Each software 
package and audio card combo is different. There is the possibility that 
your setup is looping audio back to the K3. If this is happening, it 
would be hard to figure out where the feedback frequency is, and that 
could be tripping the K3 audio limiters.


   Pull the line out cable on the K3 while you have the problem, and 
see if it disappears.


   tom bosscher k8tb


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Re: [Elecraft] Two K3's, Same Band, Same Time?

2008-10-29 Thread K8TB
I would try it. We had two K3's in use at the Holland (MI !) field 
day site, K8DAA on 20 meters. One on phone the other on CW. Sometime we 
were within 50-75 kc's , oops, kHz of each other, with no ill effect. 
The antennas were maybe 200 feet apart at the most, and they were not 
looking into the ends of any dipole. Compare to years past, we have had 
all kinds of problems with receiver overload and transmitter noise.


   tom K8TB


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Re: [Elecraft] K3: ACC connector and cable

2008-10-27 Thread K8TB
   Um, I just tried it, and, while you could plug it directly to the 
back of the K3, your RS-232 connector is now blocked.  In addition, both 
the K3 and the breakout box have the threaded standoffs that are meant 
for the cable holding bolt to go in. You would have to take those off 
the breakout adapter, and then goober up something to hold it in place. 
I would use the cable.


   tom k8tb



Dick Dievendorff wrote:

Are you able to plug the break-out-connector directly to the back of the K3,
or do you use an extension cable?

Dick, K6KR

  


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Re: [Elecraft] K3: ACC connector and cable

2008-10-26 Thread K8TB

You want HD-15 cables that have all 15 wires? And you want them cheap right?

Try:   http://www.winfordeng.com/products/ext15hd.php

$ 4.25 for the cable.  And if I may, take a look at Winford's way cool 
breakout connector for the HD-15:


http://www.winfordeng.com/products/brk15hd.php

   You would want to order the male version, with a male-female 
extension cord. For a very low price, you get all 15 pins on a captive 
wire board. I have one of these at my 6 meter SSB (K3) remote base site. 
If I loose power, the K3 shuts down and stays down. By using this 
breakout, and a parallel port relay port off the computer at the site,  
I can tickle the K3 remote on pin, and save myself a drive to the site.


   I don't think you can find anything more cost effective that a 
BRK15HDM-R-FT and a EXT15HD-6, for $ 20.25 plus shipping . Online ordering.


   Tom Bosscher K8TB
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[Elecraft] Cable for K3 Aux I/O

2008-08-29 Thread K8TB

Cable for the K3 Aux I/O

I found a source for cables for the K3 AUX I/O connector, which uses all 
15 pins of a HD-15 connector. You can find many cables for the HD-15, 
but almost all of them are for video extension cables. I found a source 
of cables. They are made by L-Com (www.l-com.com http://www.l-com.com) 
. They are available from Newark, and directly from L-Com. The part 
numbers of concern are for a male to male cable. And why a male to male? 
So you can cut the cable in half and have two cables, one for you and 
one for your buddy, or your second K3!


The part number from L-Comm is CS2H15MM-5, for a five footer, (Newark # 
is 88M8465), and the CS2H15MM-10, which is ten feet. (Newark # 30M8735). 
I bought the five footer as Newark had those in stock. The cost is 
around $ 27.00 each. L-Comm’s website shows their very own checkout 
system. I called them and they do not have a minimum order, and they 
take most credit cards.


So I cut my five foot cable into a four and one foot length. I found the 
15 conductors surrounded by a foil shield, a drain wire for the shield, 
and an overall woven out shield. The 15 conductors are all there. I 
ohmed out the colors, and while they should be the same from cable to 
cable, you might want to check out the color codes of your cable before 
committing to these wires to your K3.


Pin # Color

1 Black (solid color)
2 Brown (solid color)
3 Red (solid color)
4 Orange (solid color)
5 Yellow (solid color)
6 Green, dark (solid color)
7 Blue (solid color)
8 Violet (solid color)
9 Gray (solid color)
10 White (solid color)
11 Pink (solid color)
12 Light Green (solid color)
13 Black with white strip
14 Brown with white strip
15 Red with white strip

I connected my cable to a captive wire barrier strip, plugged it into my 
K3, turned off, but with 12 VDC power. I shorted the Violet wire, pin 8 
(power on) to the light green, pin 12 (ground). My K3 turned on. This is 
good news for me as my second K3 is at my 6 meter SSB remote site, and 
these wires will be wired into a relay controller that comes off my 
computer located there. Now, if there is a power bump, I don’t have to 
make a trip up there!


Now, to convince L-Com to make a breakout HD-15 connector with captive 
wire screws on it, like they do for the DB-9!


Tom Bosscher K8TB


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Re: [Elecraft] 6m preamp description??

2008-07-19 Thread K8TB
I bought an ARR peamp for six. It has a bit too much gain, so I have a 
BNC 10 Db pad after it. You can get these attenuators on Ebay for $ 10 
or so. I have the ARR preamp supported by a double male BNC barrel 
coming off the back of the K3 KXV3 panel. The attenuator/pad sits on the 
back of the preamp with a 12 bnc jumper back to the KXV3. Power comes 
from that handy RCA connector Elecraft put on the K3. Now the rig is 
real solid on six.


   And the even better news is that my K3 # 2 just arrived yesterday. 
This one will replace a TS-2000 at my six meter remote base.


   Currently, it's raining outside. Nuts, I can't do any yard work!

   tom bosscher K8TB


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - One Heckuva Radio

2008-06-29 Thread K8TB

Lee Buller wrote:

but the K3 is one great radio Field Day was a joy to operate on both 

CW and SSB.

There were stations close in and I never knew they were there.


  Actually, the K3 has started a new ham-social problem of the have 
and have nots. I noticed with my K3 at the K8DAA field day site, 
that I could copy just about anything. 
But many were not hearing me due to AGC pumping/lockout of signals some 
5-10kHz away. It was very noticable. We had a K3 on 20 cw about 300 feet 
from a K3 on SSB, and we never knew the other guy was there (This deals 
with raw RF overload).


  But that receiver, well, maybe it's too good?  ;)

  Tom K8TB




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Re: [Elecraft] 3rd Party K3 Compatibility Question

2008-06-22 Thread K8TB

My K3 is 100% compatible with my J-38 key!

  tom, k8tb




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[Elecraft] re: [K3] Poor performance on 6M

2008-06-18 Thread k8tb
 My experience was just the opposite. I had the K3 and TS-2000 side by
side and the K3, without any external preamp, heard signals that the
TS-2000 could not pull out. That was a strange opening. I have an ARR
6 meter preamp that I can plug into the back of the K3, but that is
in the basement. There is one advantage with the TS-2000, in that I
knew if I was within 30 KHz of K8EB, who is 11 miles away with a
monster signal! I purposely would get within 5 kHz of him on the K3,
and never heard him.

I was jumping between my home rig, and my remote base, which is also a
TS-2000, which is a very easy rig to remote control. But I found my
local K3 better than either 2000. I ordered my 2nd K3 a while ago, to
replace the TS-2000 at the six meter remote base.

tom, K8TB

Roger K8RS said,

K3 Group,
  I was looking forward to the ARRL June QSO Party this
weekend to see how the K3 did on 6M.
  Result: Not very well!
  When a fellow ham called to correct a Grid Square report
that I had missed, I knew I'd have to switch over to my
Kenwood 2000 where I could hear much better, The change was
so dramatic that I was floored.  Obviously, we need a lift
on 6M receive!  Transmit seemed fine with solid reports, but
the weak audio on receive was a severe handicap.
  More later!

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Need for compressor

2008-05-29 Thread K8TB
   If we are talking about modifying the K3 transmit audio, we also 
might want to look at installing a phase rotator, or phase scrambler.


Most male voices are very asymmetrical. This presents a real problem 
with broadcast radio, especially AM. With US AM transmission, you are 
allowed 100% negative modulation, and 125% positive modulation. With a 
proper AM transmitter and audio chain, and the 125% positive limiter 
disabled, and the right type of a male voice, you can get 175-200% 
positive modulation while never exceeding 100% negative. Flip the 
polarity of the audio driving the transmitter, and you will cause 
carrier clipping on the negative modulation, while never going over 
60-75% positive modulation. The broadcast equipment manufactures will 
many times look at the asymmetrical waveform and flip the polarity of 
the audio signal. Today, most stations depend on the microphone 
processor to balance out the microphone audio, by simple phase 
scrambling of the low end of the audio. This effect smooths out the 
sound of many male voices. I can turn the phase rotator on and off on my 
radio stations microphone processors off (Symetrix 528e's), and my 
announcers will complain that their voices sound a little brittle.


If you have ever look at your SSB signal on an oscilloscope, you may 
have noticed that the waveform goes higher in one direction than another.


It might be interesting to experiment with external processors on the 
effect, or lack of effect that phase scrambling might do for SSB.


   You can read up on how you can do this at several places:

W3AM does a good job at:
http://www.w3am.com/8poleapf.html

http://www.nu9n.com/am.html

http://www.omniaaudio.com/tech/speech.htm

http://www.euphonicmasters.com/orban_article.php
pdf of above at:
http://www.orban.com/support/orban/techtopics/Appdx_Radio_Ready_The_Truth_1.3.pdf


tom bosscher K8TB


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[Elecraft] Slightly OT, Field Day Logging Pgm

2008-05-23 Thread K8TB
   While  I have used N1MM and FQP's programs in the past, our club 
(K8DAA), uses this free field day logger.
It doesn't talk to your radio. It does require you to let it know if you 
switch bands, hence, it is compatible with any radio out there!


   It's simple and its free.

   73 de tom, k8tb



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Re: [Elecraft] Slightly OT, Field Day Logging Pgm

2008-05-23 Thread K8TB

55 year old brain fart...

   The link...

http://www.qsl.net/kc8opv/squirl-fd/




K8TB wrote:

   While  I have used N1MM and FQP's programs in the past, our club 
(K8DAA), uses this free field day logger.
It doesn't talk to your radio. It does require you to let it know if 
you switch bands, hence, it is compatible with any radio out there!


   It's simple and its free.

   73 de tom, k8tb




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Re: [Elecraft] K3 FIRMWARE UPDATE: MCU 1.87, DSP 1.69 (Finally!)

2008-05-03 Thread K8TB

To Aptos,

   As a six meter operator, all I can say is thank you...thank you 
...thank you...

This mode is s useful on VHF and above.

   Now, for my second K3 to arrive for my six meter SSB/CW remote base!

   tom K8TB  K3's #  53  ?




wayne burdick wrote:
We've just completed the most extensive K3 firmware update ever. The 
full list of changes is provided below.


* CW KEYING IN SSB MODES:  While in SSB modes, you can now send CW 
without
changing modes or using an offset. The other station will hear the 
signal at your CW pitch.

This is especially useful on VHF bands when SSB signals can’t be copied.


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Re: [Elecraft] 6 Meter Questions - OT

2008-04-02 Thread K8TB

Darwin, Keith wrote:
I've never been on 6. Never. My K3 will cover it so I'm gonna give it
a try.
What do I need for an antenna?

   A 3 element beam would be nice, but to start, a Squalo type antenna 
(horizontal) will work just fine for Es openings.


Look at the KU4AB: http://ku4ab.com/6m-horiz.html

M2 antennas: http://www.m2inc.com/products/6m/6mloop.html

And look at Ehams reviews for other equivalents:

http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/37

   Once you go through a great Es summer, you might want to look at 
more of an antenna.


Since 6 meters in built into the K3, I do encourage any K3 owners who 
have never tried six to just simply try it this summer.


   tom k8tb



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Re: [Elecraft] 6 Meter Questions - OT

2008-04-02 Thread K8TB

Also,

   Keep an ear on 50.060 to 50.080 for the CW beacons. Last summer I 
would park my radio on 50.062 to hear the W9DR beacon from Florida. If I 
hear that, I can work anyone in Florida from Michigan.


k8tb


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 on 6 Meters

2008-04-01 Thread K8TB

David Yarnes wrote:
There hasn't been much discussion about using the K3 on 6 meters. 
Unfortunately, I may be talking to myself on 6 meters for the time 
being, but Jim assures me that things should start happening on that 
band pretty soon. 

   Dave, as others have stated, standby. 6 meters popped open 30 
seconds at a time this weekend, about once an hour. This will change. 
The nice thing about six is that when the band opens from E skip, just 
about any antenna will work. Many folks work each other with antennas 
propped up on their decks. I love the band so much, that I have a second 
K3 ordered just for my six meter remote base. I live in a very poor VHF 
location, but my six meter remote is located at the highest hill 
around here. (we don't have mountains here in Michigan!). This height 
helps for ground wave and extended ground wave, but doesn't make too 
much difference for E skip. Right now the rig is a TS-2000, but I'm 
looking forward to the K3 with Simons incredible HRD program.


   I would encourage any K3 owner who has not ever tried six to get a 
squalo type antenna from KU4AB, M-squared and others. $100 for an 
antenna and coax, and you will have fun.


   Hang loose, and I'll work you from EN72..

   Tom K8TB

p.s., I hope the SSB squelch is on the to-do list for the K3. I used to 
have a Icom 551D that had a great squelch. I left the rig on all weekend.




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Re: [Elecraft] Just Say No.

2008-03-01 Thread K8TB

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft wrote:

K3s are now all over the world!
.and even uninhabited islands like VP6DX!)

   Eric, I'm one of the biggest putz low band operators there are, and 
on cw it's even worse. But I had fun working VP6DX 5 times (3 cw, 
2-ssb), using my K3 barefoot into a dipole. What made it even cooler was 
that the contacts where K3 to K3. The ops at Ducie were very nice to 
struggling ops. Thank you so much to them.


   But to say it simply, thanks to Elecraft for putting some fun back 
into ham radio.


   tom k8tb



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[Elecraft] VK6DX, slighlty OT, but not really...

2008-02-16 Thread K8TB
As I sit here with my wire antenna trying to work one of the K3's on 
Ducie Island, my mind, once again wondered.


God Bless the Internet, and Google. Have a look at where the VK6 folks 
are living:


*http://tinyurl.com/2qfyrk*


   If you look close, you can see the K3's ;)

On a sunny afternoon,

   Tom K8TB



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 SSB average power output

2008-02-04 Thread K8TB
Oh, but this IS normal. You need a peak reading wattmeter.  If anyone 
ever uses an average reading power meter to try to figure out the talk 
power of a radio, I guarantee you that they are putting out crude. Even 
with the K3 compressor set up more than it should, your peak to average 
ratio is very high. I have the Autek (sp?) peak reading meter in line, 
and it shows exactly what is going on. On SSB, I get 100 + watts, as I 
talk. On CW, I get what I dialed into the K3, and on PSK, I get around 
10, based upon the audio gain settings.


   PLEASE! Never ever use an average reading wattmeter for anything 
other than key down observations. Invest in a peak reading meter. I like 
the Autek because it has two meters, peak reading forward power, and 
peak reading, auto adjusted SWR reading. One has to do nothing but look 
at this meter to tell what is going on.


   tom k8tb



mark roz wrote:


With SSB mic level adjusted  to the max level (ALC to
the max)the average power measured on external meter
is only 4 Watts with distorted audio (power output set
at 110W). If I use external compressor the average
power is still only 4 Watts. This is done with CMP
gain at zero. This is not normal.




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Re: [Elecraft] Is the K3 for non-contesters?

2008-02-02 Thread K8TB

STEPHEN W BANKS wrote:

I'm just curious about whether the K3's capabilities and performance are
as appealing to others like me (non-contesters) as they obviously are 
to contesters.


   Steve, I probably am the biggest putz operator/owner of a K3 there 
is. I am not into contest or DX'ing. I do enjoy PSK 31.

   I'm turning 55 this week, and have been in the hobby since I was 13.
   I can't explain it, but the K3, well, it's just the radio. It is 
an absolute joy just to tool around and listen with.
I have actual heard three different qso's where the folks where talking 
about the K3. So of course I had to break in. That will take over a 30 
minutes to answer questions.


   I also think this radio is going to be going strong 15-20 years from 
now. We can look at rigs like the TS-520 and SB-101 and state that they 
still work well after 30 years, but they don't perform like the K3.
   At the same time, a lot of us had a lot of fun with those tube type 
rigs. I remember buying a used SB-303/401, that wasn't working. I fixed 
it, and had that rig for a long time. It was a lot of fun.
  
   And to me, that is what the K3 gives you, for whatever unexplainable 
reason, is just fun to have in the shack. Don't worry about the fact 
that you are not a contester, just have fun with it.


   Another side note to this Elecraft/K3 thing is, the response from 
Elecraft. Firmware changes, that other manufactures would have to come 
with a new Model suffix with, (K3-MKII-G?), well Aptos kicks them out 
weekly.  Someone asks for change X, which will only affect maybe 1 out 
ten operators, will be implemented. Then you have Simon, in the hills of 
Switzerland, writing code for HRD, which while it will works with 100+ 
rigs, will work exceptionally well for the K3, because Simon has one.


   It's fun. Go ahead and simply enjoy one of the most elegant and 
practical radios out there.


   tom k8tb

(getting really close to ordering a second K3, for the remote base)

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Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft on Google Maps?

2008-01-26 Thread K8TB

I think this is HQ:

http://tiny.cc/L4sGr

At first I was looking for a 150 foot tower with stack antennas,
but then I think Eric and Wayne and wire antenna type guys.

Maybe they could put some white bricks on the roof and spell out K3,
and we can then wait for the next set of sat pics from Google!

   vy 73, de tom k8tb



  


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 6M Preamp?

2008-01-21 Thread k8tb
 Did anyone notice the kind of steathy product announcement, of a 6M preamp
 for the K3 in Toby's excellent K3 Test from Bavaria?  I recall it being
 tossed around as a posibliity, ..

   Toby, I caught that also. In the mean time, I have a ARR preamp, Model
# P50VDG, that sits on the back of my K3. I use a female-female BNC
adapter that holds the preamp out to the rx antenna in, and a simple
male-male jumper about 9 to handle the other connections. I take power
from the handy 12 vdc RCA jack on the back of the K3.

   Of note though, I have a 6 dB BNC pad on the output of the preamp. I've
always found that preamps are a lot happier when they see close to 50
ohms.

   I have no measured MDS numbers for you. But it does bring weaker
signals up to where I can read them. This K3 is in my shack at home.

   Which brings me to a problem. I have a TS-2000 at a remote site that I
use for 6 meters SSB, only. My home sits in a valley, and this remote
site is 300 feet above my head. But, there is no comparison of the
TS-2000 with the K3, so, do I order another K3? (me thinks so!)
   I might be the only person to buy a K3 to operate just one band!

So it will be interesting to see what Aptos has come up with for 6,
but in the mean time, you can do it yourself.

   73 de tom K8TB K3 FB53
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 6M Preamp?

2008-01-21 Thread K8TB

Bill W5WVO wrote:

 Getting the K3 essentially for use on 6m.

   So, should we start using SMIRK3 ?  :)

   cu on six. 73 de tom k8t

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Re: [Elecraft] MD2 and the K3

2008-01-17 Thread k8tb
 Does the unmodified MD2 work FB in the K3?

 Thanks,

 Paul N4LCD


   Paul, yes it does. That is what I'm using on my K3. Just make sure to
turn on front panel bias. (So very easy to do, and even easier to
forget to do!)

73 de tom k8tb k3 # fb53

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Re: [Elecraft] Digital Modes

2008-01-12 Thread K8TB

Sid Leben wrote:
I would like to see more of the K3 features in HRD, such as ³CWT²  ³RIT².

   Sid, I will guarantee you that almost all functions of the K3 will 
be on HRD. Very simple to state as that software writer extraordinare, 
Simon, has his K3. I also beleive that you might in the future see 
features for the K3 inside HRD that are not available from the front 
panel of the K3.


   I have a remote base that uses a TS-2000, using HRD for remote 
control. I would like to be able to put (another) K3 there, plus there 
is one very nice site I am looking at for a VHF/UHF remote base, and it 
screams for a K3.


   Now, about that piggy bank.

   Tom K8TB   K3 FB#53


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Re: [Elecraft] NO audio - Remote Ham Radio Deluxe 3.5

2008-01-11 Thread k8tb
Alan,

 I am using HRD and IP sound for a 6 meter SSB remote base. Only problem
is that the radio is a TS-2000, and the site is screaming for a K3 on 6!

 tom bosscher



 Searched and found IP-Sound at
 http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Software/Radio_Control/
 The program was written for just such a situation.

 Thanks again,
 Alan

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[Elecraft] Kinda OT, about changes ....

2007-12-30 Thread K8TB

Lyle Johnson wrote:
I am encouraged to see that there is sufficient belief in the future 
of Amateur radio
that American companies (as well as Asian and European) are investing 
in product development. 

   I find it fascinating to have watched many changes in ham radio over 
the last 40 years. I have represented Elecraft at several hamfests, and 
I always get the same complaint, that no one sells kits anymore. I very 
easily point to the K2 and state, not true. Here in the Grand Rapids, MI 
area, we, like most towns, had a ham radio store, three to four decades 
ago. You could go down there, buy enough parts to make a 10 watt cw 
transmitter. Today, you can't do that. But look at all the kits out that 
you can look at on the Internet, find reviews about, find a forum to ask 
questions, and then download the manual to decide before you buy. Ham 
Radio is much better today than it was 40 years ago in regards to 
freedom of choice.


   And pricing? The K3/100 is right on par with the great Heath SB-101 
from the 1960-70's, when you factor in government CPI adjustments.


   But to me, the most amazing change is the flip of what happened 
30-40 years ago when the offshore equipment pushed Heath and 
Hallicrafters out of the picture.


   Within the last few years, there are 3 companies that looked at 
Japan, and said, Oh ya? Watch this!


   Elecraft, Ten-Tec and Flex Radio. All 3 right here in America. (cue 
the patriotic music!)


   It does make me happy to see this. I am impressed with all three 
companies. A good friend of mine bought the SDR-5000 and it is a great 
radio. I, for my reasons, chose the K3. It is a joy to be able to have 
the choice.


I have no complaints.

   vy 73  Tom K8TB K3 FB53

p.s. Lyle, about that DSP. I had a friend over, and while I don't have 
an antenna to transmit on 160, he was listening there, and the line 
noise here is S6. You could here some people talking buried under the 
noise. I tapped the NR button, and they jumped out. My buddy sat there 
and tapped the NR in and out. The look in his eyes was like that of a 
three year old on Christmas morning. One more K3 is ordered.



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Re: [Elecraft] k3 fan noise - lots of it.

2007-12-29 Thread K8TB

H. Cary III wrote:

K3-100 #178 ... Both fans operate this time but WOW, is it every 
loud! -
Is it the missing hardware or are others experiencing noisy fans, too? 
I've got to fix this, both for my sanity and to save face!


Cary, the fans are very quiet. My guess is that the blades on the fan 
are hitting, due to the lack of proper mounting, or spacing. Also, 
visually check to make sure no wires are touching the fan blades. I have 
this happen a lot at work on many computers.
But visually check those fans. Spin the blades manually, there should be 
no binding.


73  de Tom K8TB  K3 FB# 53


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[Elecraft] K3 Pelican case?

2007-12-12 Thread K8TB
Has anyone, who has possession of a K3, ordered and received a Pelican 
case? I would like to ask what size you went with, and what style.


   I am in a quandary. K8AJ wants to buy me a Pelican case for my 
(our?) K3. So she came right out and asked me what model to buy, and I 
just don't know! She will not let the K3 ride in the back seat in a 
cardboard box. I'm not sure if I need room for a key/headphones,power 
supply etc in the Pelican case,  as those can also easily be carried in 
a soft tool bag.


   Anyone been there yet?

   Tom Bosscher K8TB

   K3 FB53


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[Elecraft] CQ WW CW and E$lecraft

2007-11-25 Thread K8TB
   I just got back from the qth of N8CC. Jeff has a contest grade 
station set up. Besides 2 or 3 HF towers, he has both an 80 and a 160 
1/4 wave vertical, along with 3 1350' long beverage antennas.


   He had a handful of hams over to operate single op/single band in 
the contest.


   On 20 m, there was K8DD, with a K2.
  780 q's, 135 countries, 33 zones, score 363,720

   On 40 m, there was AC8W, with a K2
   375 q's, 109 countries, 30 zones, score 129,687

   On 80 m, K8AQM, with a K2
   336 q's, 101 countries, 25 zones, score 115,668

   And on 160 meters:
   N8EA with my K3
   119 Q's, 56 countries, 18 zones, score 22,200


   It was an Elecraft room. The only problem was when I arrived one 
hour before the end of the contest, to pick up my K3. I think the phrase 
was Over our dead bodies!


   The different ops took turns listening to the K3. Jeff, N8CC likes 
160. With 80 acres, two full size 1/4 wave verticals for both 80 and 
160, and 3 beverages, yes, he likes 160. He told me that he thought at 
first the K3 was not hooked up to the antenna selector, until he 
starting tuning around. Something about a really quiet receiver. He is 
totally impressed.


   K8AJ and I had to wait till 2359 Zulu, and then, reluctantly, I was 
allow to retrieve my K3. Within that room, there were 5 more ordered.


  Tom, K8TB   K3 # FB-53


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[Elecraft] Elecraft K3 at the Fort Wayne swap

2007-11-13 Thread k8tb
If all goes well there will be an Elecraft K3 on display at the Fort
Wayne, Indiana Swap. K8AJ and myself (K8TB) will be there Sat and Sun,
and Mike, N8XPQ should join us on Sunday.

   Look for the Elecraft banner and someone with a big smile on his face!

 73 de Tom K8TB

(p.s., the radio is better than the hype!)
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Re: [Elecraft] WTB

2007-09-26 Thread K8TB

jgabbard wrote:

Still looking for that Non- working HW9 to restore and use, with docs
complete Thanks, John KF7OM

Wanna build a brand new one?  


Look at Ebay auction item # 150164134610

   Now, what does a K2-10 go for?

   Absolutely silly people out there.

  Tom K8TB



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[Elecraft] FS: K2, KSB2,KAT2, XV60

2007-09-17 Thread K8TB

Elecraft K2, 10 watt version, with built in 20 watt antenna tuner (KAT2),
the SSB Module (KSB2) and the XV60 transverter interface module.
This is serial # 5050, with all updates.
Price is $ 750, US and Canada only, and I pay for shipping UPS Ground, 
insured.

No microphone, but power cord and all manuals are included.
I accept Paypal, bank money order or US postal money order

Tom K8TB (k8tb at bosscher.org)



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Re: [Elecraft] Antenna tuners

2007-08-26 Thread K8TB
   Speaking of antenna tuners Is there any possiblity that the new 
K3 antenna tuner can be put in a seperate box and be remotely 
controlled? I use a 102' dipole, fed with balanced feedline, which then 
goes into a back room in the basement. There, it hits a 4:1 balun, and 
then it sees an LDG RT-11 (a remotelly controlled antenna tuner). I then 
have 75 feet of coax from the antenna tuner to the shack.


   This is the best of all possible worlds. Any mismtach is taken care 
of by the tuner, and the subjected line loss of the coax. And it works 
very well. I convinced a buddy of mine to try a balanced fed dipole, and 
a remote antenna tuner, and he claims he has never had stronger signals 
on 40 and 80 than before. (He had over 120 feet of coax to the tuner/balun)


   I have no idea what tytpe of signals the K3 antenna tuner wants to 
and from the K3. I don't care if it's not rs-232, most CPU I/O signals 
can be buffered and balanced and sent a long ways.


   Maybe when that manual appears we can look at this.

   tom K8TB  K3 FBxxx



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[Elecraft] Slightly OT, Very Special-Special Event Station this weekend]

2007-07-09 Thread k8tb

 Like Old Time Marine Radio, and morse code? Listen in to how it used
to be done with the Marine Shore stations:

http://www.radiomarine.org/non8.html

 The mainpage of this group is at:

http://www.radiomarine.org/

As licensed as amateur radio operators, we may not transmit back to
the shore stations on the frequencies they normally listen to,
however, K6KPH will be on the air, taking reception reports. Details
in the link.


73 de Tom K8TB

Partial Owner of K3 FB-xxx (FB means first batch!)


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[Elecraft] Just what isn't user definable?

2007-06-07 Thread K8TB

I just added a task to my future-K3-firmware list: allow the VFO B
display to optionally show signal level in dBm. Three digits. Just for 
you, Brian   :)

73, Wayne N6KR

In addition to the slope of the function (dB per S-unit), is the
scale set point user-configurable? Or is this hard-coded such that
S9=50 uV?

User settable. ...Wayne


OK, I overheard this at Dayton. As with everything on the K3, all 
things are definable.


   Is it true that one can change the size of the cabinet, in both 
English and Metric?


  Tom K8TB K3 Sn xxx



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Re: [Elecraft] K3+XV144+XV432

2007-05-28 Thread K8TB

David,

   I don 't think that for now Elecraft is going to come out with K3 
version xvtrs. Maybe in the future. But their existing xvtrs are among 
the best. However, they are meant for a 28 Mhz IF, and therein lies a 
problem. Normally, 28 MHz would become 144.0, so the K3 would need to 
go 30.0 Mhz to get 146.00, for satellite work. The ten meter band stops 
at 29.7 MHz of course. So this one is a simple firmware change. The real 
problem in on 432, where 28 MHz will be 432, so a 435.3 sat signal would 
be 31.3 MHz. I don't know if Elecraft will have firmware to let this 
happen at the xvtr stage (1 milliwatt). What I have already looked at is 
having two different crystals, with their own tweaking circuitry, one 
for 432, and one for 435. The K2 has become a favorite IF rig for many 
of the microwave boys, and I'm sure the K3 will be right there also.


   Here is the long term deal. I know Aptos will take care of the 
problem. I believe that the K3 will became a favorite of many satellite 
operators, and microwave folks. Heck, a favorite for everyone!. As such, 
requests and concerns like this will be added to the 500+ item wish list 
that I am sure exists right now. That is one continually amazing thing 
about Elecraft, how they truly respond to what the customers want.


   Tom K8TB



David wrote:

Hello All,

Can anyone please tell me the expected frequency ranges when using a K3 and 
KXV3 transverter option with the XV144 and XV432 transverters?  Being a 
satellite enthusiast I would need the K3+XV144 to operate from 145.8 to 
146MHz and the K3+XV432 to operate from 432 to 438MHz.  Add another 2MHz on 
top to each to work the local FM repeaters would be a bonus.


  



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[Elecraft] Post Dayton Traumatic Stress Syndrome...

2007-05-20 Thread K8TB
Like many of you, I went to Dayton to see the radio that was ordered for 
me (by K8AJ) actually looked like. It is rather un-nerving to order a 
radio that is not even in production.


But.

It does look great. Nice LCD panel.

But looks only count on the first date.

The demo radio on the left had a whip antenna attached. The audio coming 
from it sounded, well, Elecraftish! I usually hear the same sound from 
the Ten-Tec's. Someone pays attention to the receive audio, and it just 
opens up.


I had fun just stepping back and watching people go up and look at the 
radio. Elecraft even ran out of brochures on Friday. I felt very good 
about getting in on the first production run.


The only negative, the Amazing Lisa was not there.

It was a good weekend.

Tom K8TB K3 Cult member SN xxx




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Re: [Elecraft] Post Dayton Traumatic Stress Syndrome...

2007-05-20 Thread K8TB

Edward Dickinson III wrote:
Therefore I could
..use a little enlightenment on your comment below.

   Ed,

  I am talking about a very subjective situation. There are many 
items that can add to a specific radios' sound, both transmit and 
receive. One area is phase shift, usually caused by an improperly 
designed resistor-capacitor network in a roll-off or bandpass 
configuration. What happens is that a signal at one frequency, say 500 
Hz, is delayed by this circuit for a certain amount of time, and then a 
signal at 1.5 khz is delayed a different amount of time. Your ear cannot 
define this, but it doesn't like it.


   Did you ever notice at field day, that some radios the signal just 
jumps out?  I do not like a perfect AGC in a radio. A perfect AGC will 
keep the audio level the same, for all signal strengths. If the AGC has 
a slope in it, it allows for a certain amount of dynamic range. If you 
set the slope to be a 20:1 ratio, then an S9 signal will be some 4-6 
times louder than an signal in the noise.Some people want a  perfect 
AGC. The K3 will let you define it.


   One other area that really effects the audio sound is the distortion 
that different sections of the radio add to signal. The real world 
situation is that many times this distortion cannot be measured. It is 
very easy to do a simple THD or IM distortion check, but then we get 
into whats called TIM, or Transient Intermodulation  Distortion. All 
circuits from the actual product detector to the audio stages proper 
effect this audio quality.


At times the chase for the perfect audio signal does become silly. 
Google around and you can see articles that are written by what I call 
AudioPhools.


   I have been in the radio broadcast engineering profession for some 
35+ years now. Every few months we learn how simple audio is not.


   But the K3 continues the Elecraft Mojo.

   tom K8TB

p.s., Again, how a certain radio sounds is exceptionally subjective. The 
above sentences are simply my thoughts, and are not valid where 
prohibited.!!


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[Elecraft] 15 kHz IF out K3

2007-05-10 Thread K8TB

   One more questionf ro the five thousand on the FAQ.

   I see the BNC on the back for IF out, which will be the 8.+ MHz IF. 
The low IF is 15 kHz for the DSP. If one were to get the general 
coverage option, can the 15 kHz IF be routed, to the PC card out (maybe 
it is already), so the DRM can be decoded externally? Or will there be 
enough memory/horsepower in the DSP to decode DRM internally? (way too 
cool if that happens).


   One down side to my order for the K3, I now have to get a new 
Elecraft shirt showing the K3 SN #.


   Tom Bosscher K8TB  K2 5050, K3 xx



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[Elecraft] Tee Shirt Slogan

2007-05-05 Thread K8TB

You guys are close:

K3  I can hear you now!
Julius  n2wn

K3 -- Can I hear you now?
Jim, WD9HDC



  The real slogan is:

  K3
We Hear You


  or, a little longer


  K3  We Hear You

  . Very Well


(put the ...Very Well on the front, and the K3 on the back)


Eric, Wayne, Lisa has my mailing address.

  Tom K8TB



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