Re: [Elecraft] Lightning concerns: Was: K4 Remote: My QTH vs. a friend's, many miles to the north
Hello Jorge, Thanks for an interesting thread, which elicited some good technical replies as well as some undeserved and rather haughty tut-tutting, presumably about valuable mail column-cm: the remedy for the latter is, of course, the delete button - a facility with which any reader of this mailer is well-practiced at using. I get the point you're making and have considerable sympathy for it: in a highly connected, and possibly remote, environment is it desirable for a manufacturer to do better than baseline digital I/O protection, especially as manufacturers themselves tout the remote connectivity as a selling point? I think it is, and I appreciate that you're not asking for magic: e.g, for primary lightning protection. Any increased port robustness, including galvanic isolation, is worth thinking about and - most importantly - so is bench and field serviceability. The all-too-common madness of entry-level ports on a dense motherboard is well worth avoiding! You mention the KPA1500 and I'm also a rather far-flung user of this PA. I can, and do, re-invent as many wheels as I need to in order to run safely a local and remote station but the KPA1500 service situation is egregious: no schematic and not even a decent block diagram to show port internal connectivity etc. Anyway, thanks again for the topic and the opportunity to register a vote for more robust I/O design, better serviceability and improved documentation. I hope your challenges are behind you soon! 73, Peter (VK6HP) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Jorge Diez - CX6VM Sent: Monday, 6 May 2024 1:42 AM To: Mike Fatchett W0MU Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Lightning concerns: Was: K4 Remote: My QTH vs. a friend's, many miles to the north hello To finish with this topic, I was just wondering if a device that is intended for use in remote stations, always connected and in some cases with no one to disconnect during storms, could not have a better USB connector, for example If he tells me it can't be done, fine, my question has been answered and thank you very much. time to move on to other virtues of Elecraft 73, Jorge CX6VM/CW5W __ 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] K3s port isolation??
Hello Peter, I'm not an Elecraft transceiver user so I'll defer to others on the radio specifics. One thing to watch is that you're actually "seeing" the noise properly on the apparently high s/n port. In other words, make sure the levels are sufficient throughout the analog - digital chain in order to allow a proper s/n calculation to be performed. Not ensuring that is a classic way of getting an artificially high s/n. 73, Peter (Vk6HP) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Peter Dougherty (W2IRT) via Elecraft Sent: Friday, 2 February 2024 10:39 AM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3s port isolation?? So I have a weird situation going on with my K3s. First a bit of background: I have been experiencing extreme powerline noise for years (this isn't about that), so I've been looking for ways of mitigating it on my end to at least get useful signals of some kind on 80 and 160. I have a K9AY loop RX antenna and a full-size 80m Inverted Vee at 65'. Tonight, I was switching between my Inverted Vee and the K9AY loop with an external noise-canceller (WIMO "QRM Eliminator") in line. It's somewhat effective with about a 30dB improvement on the K9AY. But then something quite unexpected happened. I wanted to see how low my noise floor was with this new device inline so I figured I'd switch to an empty antenna port (ANT-2 on the K3s). As soon as I pressed the button my noise floor dropped to from about -130 to -140 on my P3, lower than it's been in years. But I was still hearing FT8 and the signal-to-noise improved considerably. This is.surprising to say the least. How am I still able to copy weak FT8 signals (and CW) with absolutely nothing connected to the ANT-2 port? I'm talking about copying stations in A7, V3, CT3, and west-coast US, not strong locals. I don't think I've ever had lowband S/N that good before to be honest. What is the port isolation supposed to be like on the K3s and is what I'm seeing normal? Just to be clear, I disconnected my AUX antenna that I use occasionally for diversity RX, and my K9AY and it was still the same. Only my Inverted Vee was connected to the K3s. When I disconnected it everything dropped to nothing. Is what I'm seeing expected behaviour? And this leads to a big question. With ANT-2 selected for RX, (remember, there's nothing connected to the ANT-2 SO-239 on the radio) is it possible to select a different TX Antenna? I'd be pleased as punch to receive in this configuration but it's not practical to manually switch from ANT-2 on receive back to ANT-1 for transmit. Regards, Peter Dougherty, W2IRT __ 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 p.h...@curtin.edu.au __ 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 port isolation??
So I have a weird situation going on with my K3s. First a bit of background: I have been experiencing extreme powerline noise for years (this isn't about that), so I've been looking for ways of mitigating it on my end to at least get useful signals of some kind on 80 and 160. I have a K9AY loop RX antenna and a full-size 80m Inverted Vee at 65'. Tonight, I was switching between my Inverted Vee and the K9AY loop with an external noise-canceller (WIMO "QRM Eliminator") in line. It's somewhat effective with about a 30dB improvement on the K9AY. But then something quite unexpected happened. I wanted to see how low my noise floor was with this new device inline so I figured I'd switch to an empty antenna port (ANT-2 on the K3s). As soon as I pressed the button my noise floor dropped to from about -130 to -140 on my P3, lower than it's been in years. But I was still hearing FT8 and the signal-to-noise improved considerably. This is.surprising to say the least. How am I still able to copy weak FT8 signals (and CW) with absolutely nothing connected to the ANT-2 port? I'm talking about copying stations in A7, V3, CT3, and west-coast US, not strong locals. I don't think I've ever had lowband S/N that good before to be honest. What is the port isolation supposed to be like on the K3s and is what I'm seeing normal? Just to be clear, I disconnected my AUX antenna that I use occasionally for diversity RX, and my K9AY and it was still the same. Only my Inverted Vee was connected to the K3s. When I disconnected it everything dropped to nothing. Is what I'm seeing expected behaviour? And this leads to a big question. With ANT-2 selected for RX, (remember, there's nothing connected to the ANT-2 SO-239 on the radio) is it possible to select a different TX Antenna? I'd be pleased as punch to receive in this configuration but it's not practical to manually switch from ANT-2 on receive back to ANT-1 for transmit. Regards, Peter Dougherty, W2IRT __ 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] KPA500 Receives Keying Signal but does not XMT
Here’s the problem: I’ve been successfully running a K3/KPA500/LDG AT-600ProII with no problems, usually USB and digital modes at about 400W out. I recently obtained a KAT500 and replaced the LDG tuner. I used the Elecraft 15-pin cables for full integration. The KPA500 follows the K3 when I switch bands, but when I go from STBY to OPER, the KPA500 shows no output. Neither SWR nor POWER led’s light up. I tried my original configuration with the LDG tuner but same problem occurs—KPA500 no output. I know the K3 is producing output because on STBY the LDG shows POWER and I’m making contacts barefoot. I’ve even tried the basic hookup with RCA cables but no joy. The KPA500 does show an asterisk in the left corner of the display when I key the K3 so it is receiving a keying signal. I’ve checked to make sure I have the latest firmware version and I’ve doubled checked to make sure that INHIB IN is DISABLED in the menu. I’m running the KPA500 on 240V mains. I’m hoping someone can help me solve this dilemma. Pete KH6GK __ 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] Buying a K4 in UK
Thanks, but I'm not in need of advice on how to conduct transactions with Elecraft, and I have quite clear recollections of the discussions regarding delivery. In the end it's up to Elecraft whether they take on board the experience of international customers. For what it's worth, my experience with Kenwood equipment shipping has been very good, as has been the experience with the delivery of small-parcel express-post items from SDRKits. 73, Peter (VK6HP). -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Jim Brown Sent: Thursday, 3 August 2023 11:27 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Buying a K4 in UK On 8/2/2023 7:40 PM, Peter Hall wrote: > Unfortunately, Elecraft's preferred carrier - UPS - is certainly not > Tier-1 Elecraft is a small enough company that the issue of shipment could certainly be addressed when discussing a purchase. I've long heard that DHL is well respected in the UK. They're not well known here (although they used to be 30 years ago, and I used them in my biz to ship architectural drawings around), but Elecraft will probably know how to access them. Again, ASK! Elecraft is not like Kenwood, ICOM, or Yaesu! Anyone who's been on this reflector for very long knows that Wayne and Eric (who does most of the management stuff) are both online and read this reflector, and the company is online friendly. So is SDRKits (in the UK), from whom I've made four purchases over about ten years, all of which arrived painlessly by USPS. One of their people reads the support reflector for their excellent VNWA and responds promptly and in a very positive way to any issues. 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://secure-web.cisco.com/1hZ_9_rbk-L_8T3cUf4N8b8Ysg0mUJ7-OzOf0KFDl1ASFOumIybw4f11LQJXRvuMuDosnTutd4hzrYoNxdv6LG_M2iY4BUskJPnNqY6M7GdLJJIkmaxV1LUPC6yvTIYKgppqdWNxk_1F69wNfBdOGIpBEuddUXGlDtXsp-_L9TjayPYJ2uVhdVkFcqIQUxtoyNq2j3M94PM_u5sOMZyMiCET1GJlMud13-2lBM-EsHkQNmCD1B-pMO91qzxbrZJPvjemAiSPjlWrgVKUB-J6sa47yuZh1PE-sKb8q2lKxLkcAmJGvqxzBLNmdovTQEOspJ-alzKU4NgCChCvLdU9a6iAiFaOwpiOL2GjYnvA_M055S2pdSB-e7KVXJOCpJh5_zVxMvBe8FGj1VePb6vIEStY3_m3NeirYVWrs7xAzPdWYCGlyQhb4a3CFAhDE2v5qPnls4Eftje1Wgpx2MRR3tQ/http%3A%2F%2Fmailman.qth.net%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Felecraft Help: http://secure-web.cisco.com/1D_CVoqhKzIDm5oNrPVHjL5dSjPF_flfbYt86xslWc8_3_7Ab-rDESYRjGlYz89BtKQSmCkVWOUt3VCX8s8lchBiSitc1cK4nUrKBUEFCN020h0BOz1dn_zYNNhri3Xpv9YG3EHwdHYHaa2X6iUx4Wockwr2ynr6bpHrBN6HI-yNDZ0Qt5Fp_O7mk5BtGdHk7rubZp4SulNQMTJ10aDmZnRmgRNeVp8y1o0lD3ZS4MePf-fTXefyc5eH_9Es8nDfy0mmOlQokp_9qbQ5qZnBvUeCIxwPgvRNW9s54xKi89A2bp8VmJcKhVx0gJ0asDdI7g2PmyXDTHXXM1oS7CauMzq_rY3zQoW4_Dw34y_YmdUGzYxrrLvdRoGIVb_8xlKCMsCUjIIXK3Bneta0ZuVO5brlGS-P6RM0rLzap9KX_XyscxYp_iZlsQ5pfvn9tUj52pZ46ESr5HUtuKzd9icvUBg/http%3A%2F%2Fmailman.qth.net%2Fmmfaq.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 p.h...@curtin.edu.au __ 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] Buying a K4 in UK
Fred, The workaround is to recognize in advance that the combination of USPS+Royal Mail, USPS+Australia Post, etc. is essentially hopeless and will lead to the recipient of high-ish value parcels having to do considerable work in order to ransom the item from the customs folks in the receiving country. The shipping process works much better when a Tier-1 courier is involved, since the customs and taxes can be arranged and paid during the transit stage. Unfortunately, Elecraft's preferred carrier - UPS - is certainly not Tier-1 in this part of the world and, in my experience, the recipient still has to do quite a bit of hand-holding and monitoring to make sure the import process goes well. My further experience over many years of shipping high-end scientific and test equipment leads me to prefer DHL but, unfortunately, shipping from Elecraft with DHL has been deprecated when I've suggested it. I think it'd be useful for Elecraft to pay attention to the feedback from Lower Spewing, Kanga Valley, or whatever international destinations are involved. There's not much of value in getting commentary from California! 73, Peter. -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Fred Jensen Sent: Thursday, 3 August 2023 10:15 AM To: G4GNX Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Buying a K4 in UK G4GNX wrote on 8/2/2023 4:40 PM: > "Supposing that USPS do their job correctly" That might happen right after the pubs in the UK begin serving ice cold Guiness in frozen mugs, Alan. The US Postal Service used to be the most trusted agency of our government. Today, I put at least one and often more mis-delivered mail pieces into the do-over box for our carrier to get it right hoping that whoever got our mail is doing likewise. Benjamin Franklin, where are you?73, Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW Sparks NV DM09dn Washoe County -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software. http://www.avg.com/ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://secure-web.cisco.com/1r935fz6TCfq7V-wRDrHwyFmL5X0RoZYQdkWeJKWQDDAEZjo_Zg_1Y5kyeXpBq1ogU_gvp_Hq8j4s6CUMlfsi_jsDNftrAXvWtj89OpjDSu9zXySw3_WIuH19E55zeS7dV_082ccjj5NMmDKUVlRgQWv-J0YlNWWOKkFcZl5thiBm5QncM01zl_bD2qgsbDM_FEmxTAeuWoF2GJX-rTzoOR7MqH4Hk05yA0h-D67eIKmigXDzYwRreO2rIuP4l37kQE_cSUFVX797D9pjnFSQIVbhgxAeVbOFnDCtdsuD2XP6GsmSf2IDf-7sqGoX_-qVeEIjoDl5hXjXPQ6S9yewjdtM2rtlLPGYvHKLOwhZNsEMYdb-NPRGc9NcotVJqkcHNVEP8tJ4CvT41sujytJviv6KYkDDMlPGXXM546kqMV85XR19cFlREKdIwvzGyBLAwJay2KSnffv3ITCmR_YvmQ/http%3A%2F%2Fmailman.qth.net%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Felecraft Help: http://secure-web.cisco.com/1tQTdHJcClKnkc7152Luud07dQEHPoIpMSpCgv-9G4RmSqhwNkwuuQ5ZT0Vokgk_kt5xe1TuZB7PH1868-b-toi0C8kxuEG1NKItkGK7Vh-fJk3fev0qbnmwSY_TIvQWzpIKowaPS8nhD5HsiJsptGe_r1b-s1RTjP2s3lt0BOwZ8O4bw62Bg8cQFVLQXJqTjsUoGk5amMh1WGDPquPqSI7ZqWu2wzBjrEuh8B8grWu_9-74_7Oy34UJiCrCzUebPkbDxO8rED4k5YhdcTaY1rodTyxQstAZtkpq-gjwTafgplcvh76G8RHexMmgzgZpUBz0XAxdfSC5qinww8W0ACjQFKQeo8BmtWAHfKutEY-SDd9o0r5iDX-iWgKycqQiEmb3_6YIjBxidiMVgGfTnZWFswzDyOUL3ek-Z4DKjQ4NRfWtitLpJ0gviUKXb-co3IbyIeK0iPCg12VMrZ48MeQ/http%3A%2F%2Fmailman.qth.net%2Fmmfaq.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 p.h...@curtin.edu.au __ 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] checking
Hello. Please let me know when you get this? I'd like to ask you something Thanks Peter __ 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] KPA500 Fan Question
My K3 into the KPA500 for over ten years . . . . The FAN REV is 1.54 (this might be software)The resting temp is 27C. When on RTTY I set the FAN to 4. Otherwise 2 for most of the time. Knowing temperature is the killer of electronics (short of lightning) I try to keep things cool. For 10 years I have had a 24 V muffin fan running at 12 V sitting on top of the amp (and another one on the K3). To rule out VSWR issues, how about connecting the KPA500 directly into a dummy load. Pete W4WWQ On Sun, May 14, 2023 at 1:24 PM James Bennett via Elecraft < elecraft@mailman.qth.net> wrote: > Got a question (problem?) regarding the fan in my KPA500. I'm driving the > amp at 29 watts from a Kenwood TS-890S. The amp is connected to a KAT500, > which in turn is hooked to a 30 foot tall Zerofive flagpole vertical. The > tuner has provided me with a nice 1.2:1 SWR, as displayed on the amp. The > resting temp of the amp shows 42C. At 29 watts input to the amp, I’m seeing > about 480 watts of power from the amp. The amp has nothing sitting on top > of it, and the wall behind it is over 12” away. There is about 2” clearance > on either side of the amp, and it is sitting on top of the KAT500. > > The issue: The fan comes on in a very short time - less than 20 seconds - > and the temp display runs up to 50+ degrees. If I start calling CQ or get > into a QSO, it doesn’t take long for the temp to show over 60 degrees and > the fan is running at max. > > When I had a K3 and more recently, a K4D - this did NOT happen. The fan > would come on but NEVER at the max, loud level. Interestingly, many moons > ago I also had a KX3 and had it connected to the KPA500. I noticed that the > fan would also come on fairly quickly with that rig driving the amp, but I > never thought too much about it. Until now... > > But now, I think there is some sort of problem. It seems to me that the > temp shouldn’t get that high that fast nor should the fan start roaring in > that short amount of time. I could understand it if the SWR was really bad, > but at 1.2:1 > > Any ideas why the amp fan should be acting this way with a non-K3 or > non-K4 driving it? > > Jim / K7TXA > __ > 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 plasc...@gmail.com -- Pete Lascell Forest, VA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2-Bias Resistor When Using Mic Connector Pin 1 for Soundcard Input
Don (and Jim for info), There could have been another reason for not showing any text in the text-part if the message. Jim might use a device like a "smart"phone that sends HTML-only mail. This mailman server is set to suppress and delete any HTML markup and attachments in received mails before sending it to all participants. So, for anyone reading this: Send at least Plain Text + HTML or better still Plain Text Only to this mail-reflector. 73, Peter - PA0PJE Op 2023-04-03 om 02:13 schreef W3FPR: Jim, If I understand your question in the subject line (but no text to detail your question) - then the answer is that it all depends on the soundcard. If it has a DC blocking capacitor in the input, then all is well with the bias resistor in place. If there is no DC blocking at the soundcard, the the bias resistor will have to be removed or a special cable with a DC blocking capacitor will have to be inserted between the mic input and the soundcard AF input. A capacitor of 1 to 5 uF should do fine. If this does not answer your question, the respond with more text instead of us trying to guess from just a subject line. 73, Don W3FPR On 4/2/2023 6:31 PM, Jim Campbell wrote: __ 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 w3fpr...@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 pa0...@xs4all.nl __ 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] [Elecraft-KX] On the threshold of a dream
Think I'll wait for the upgrade version, Shakespeare. P Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone Original message From: kevinr Date: 4/1/23 11:08 AM (GMT-05:00) To: Elecraft Reflector Cc: m...@elecraft-kx.groups.io Subject: [Elecraft-KX] On the threshold of a dream It was a fairly normal dream. A CW rag chew with weak signals. Then N6KR came back to me. After I gave him a 559 on the peaks, I asked him what was new with him. I sat back and listened as he told me about the new Elecraft KX15. He had been working on the nanobot installed user interface, so he described that first. I lost some due to fading but here's the jist of it from my notes: The KX15 user interface has a true head up display. A waterfall appears in your visual cortex; the control panel is placed wherever you think it should be. Audio is injected into your auditory cortex; extra processing is possible through direct access to your cerebral cortex. He mentioned this was the perfect interface for hearing or visually impaired operators. There is also an optional haptic interface for inveterate knob twiddlers. Ordering and setup is simple. Send Elecraft a sealed sample of your DNA. They use it to program your personal set of nanobots. You receive a bag of raw materials with the preprogrammed machines. Lie down with the raw materials placed nearby. The nanobots induce sleep during the one hour build time. They enhance pathways to the visual, auditory, and cerebral cortex areas of your brain. When that part of the process is complete the nanobots awaken you for your training session. They emplant the user interface controls as engrams by sending messages to your visual cortex, as they store memories in your cerebral cortex. (buy Elecraft) Once they are assured you understand the user interface they lyse themselves and are excreted. A small number of the nanobots are retained for future upgrades. The KX15 user interface nanobots are keyed to your DNA to prevent them from roaming to other humans. Since they have this DNA map they can compare each cell they encounter for cancer screening. Any diploid cell which does not match your DNA map can be lysed, pending approval of course. They will also filter your blood for toxins. Or, sadly, they could be used to remove the KX15 thought controlled interface. The nanobots did more than enhance pathways in your brain and emplant engrams. They also crafted interface antennas under your skin. Those appear as tattoos which can be made transparent if desired. The antennas are gauged for: WiFi, Blue Tooth, and the control/data link to the Tesla free space transducer. You can change the antenna type if you wish by scanning the thought interface for choices. Run multiple antennas to better link with your 'net environment. Next Wayne mentioned the thought to CW modulation scheme. Plus other options, like thought to: SSB, AM, and a list of digital modes. But he knew he had me hooked with thought to CW Whatever you think is transmitted in your chosen mode. Whatever you think... Yes, the thought controlled interface does require a few filters: the language limiter, band and power limits per class and location, regulation encouragement, and (buy Elecraft) subliminal advertising. You can order the optional color packet for custom tattoos: The animated Elecraft logo Campaign ribbons for K1 through K16 and KX1 through KX15 with serial number overlays and decorations for multiple rigs in each category Or install the active nanobot tattoo function where you can display: A scrolling message Real time raw contest score The time piece of your choice Active tattoo on either, or both arms All tattoos can be made transparent via instant thought command After I had taken notes on the interface I asked him about the rig itself. He told me there is no radio, only a transducer which generates a carrier wave, drawing power from free space. The transducer controls wavelength, modulation, sampling, and the power level requested. He did complain about not being able to lower the rig's power draw; 0.03 microamps is just too high. He really wants to use nanobots to embed the transducer, eliminate the various interconnects, and speed throughput. Then the thought controlled interface would be able to drive the Tesla field transducer directly. I lost the next sentence because I was thinking of a perfect antenna, oriented exactly, even as I was hiking around sending CW with my thoughts. Woo Hoo! Then I asked him about power levels. He said he had melted a receiver, but quickly added limiters to the thought controlled interface. He mentioned the lost Tesla papers in passing but we never got back to it. I have to admit the transducer does seem like science fiction. But Wayne assured me it works great. The transducer is carried on a velcro patch (for now) linked to the thought interface via the embedded antenna links. It is 3.5
Re: [Elecraft] K2 and RSP1
Sorry Barry, it's empty again. 73, Peter Op 2022-12-30 om 14:05 schreef Barry H: __ 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 pa0...@xs4all.nl __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 and RSP1
Sorry Barry, This email reflector can ony process plain text. Mail in HTML Only end up empty here. HTML and plain text works but no markup will be shown, just the plain text part. And finally any attachment is removed on arrival on the reflector. So please write your question again as "plain text only" I don't know how this must be set in Gmail, I use a local program to write mail called Mozilla Thunderbird. Hope this helps. 73 es HNY, Peter PA0PJE Op 2022-12-30 om 01:51 schreef Barry H: __ 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 pa0...@xs4all.nl __ 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] AF knob turn all around
Sorry Jorge, you are right... Those are real 10K potentiometers. You have to order those from Elecraft I think. Good luck and 73, Peter Op 2022-12-03 om 16:05 schreef Jorge Diez - CX6VM: Hi Peter but it has stopped at left and right. Anyway, it broke, it was shelled :-( I will need to find a new one 73, Jorge CX6VM/CW5W El sáb, 3 dic 2022 a las 12:00, Peter Eijlander (PA0PJE) () escribió: Hi Jorge, Those knobs drive digital encoders. Digital encoders usually have no hard stops. 73, eter Op 2022-12-03 om 02:03 schreef Jorge Diez - CX6VM: Hello in one of my K3 radios, AF, SUB, RF/SQL and SUB knobs turn all aroun, no limits on right and left side Couldn`t figure out if I need a phillips or ALE instrument to fix it and if this will fix it properly thanks __ 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 cx6vm.jo...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] AF knob turn all around
Hi Jorge, Those knobs drive digital encoders. Digital encoders usually have no hard stops. 73, eter Op 2022-12-03 om 02:03 schreef Jorge Diez - CX6VM: Hello in one of my K3 radios, AF, SUB, RF/SQL and SUB knobs turn all aroun, no limits on right and left side Couldn`t figure out if I need a phillips or ALE instrument to fix it and if this will fix it properly thanks __ 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] Recommendation for Microphone for K3s?
Today I ordered a spare CM500 from Sweetwater and have a tracking number as it was also shipped today. Pete W4WWQ On Wed, Nov 2, 2022 at 1:26 PM David Sumner wrote: > I just bought a second CM500 from Sweetwater. Great customer service. They > were out of stock but let me know as soon as new stock arrived. > > Dave K1ZZ > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Nov 2, 2022, at 10:44 AM, k...@comcast.net wrote: > > > > Not sure about the manufacturing aspect but still available from amazon, > > sweetwater, etc. > > Hank / KR7X > > > > -Original Message- > > From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net > On > > Behalf Of j...@kk9a.com > > Sent: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 9:57 PM > > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Recommendation for Microphone for K3s? > > > > Is the Yamaha CM500 still being manufactured? > > > > John KK9A > > > > > > Rick NK7I wrote: > > > > They're nothing special; you can dial in equalization just as well in the > > K3S. I bought the Heil with my K3 and quickly gave up on them. > > > > The Yamaha CM500 plugs into the rear (with bias) and the headphones are > > comfy for hours, without spending a lot (by comparison, you can get a few > > for the cost of one Heil). They block most of the noise in my shack. I > > keep a couple spares as the foam covers do wear out. > > > > If you need to block of lot of shack noise, there are other options, most > > are expensive. > > > > A search of the archives is recommended, this topic has been covered many > > times before. > > > > 73, > > Rick nk7i > > > > __ > > 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 k...@comcast.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 dave.sumner.k...@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 plasc...@gmail.com -- Pete Lascell Forest, VA __ 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 USB audio connections no longer visible in WSJT after 22H2 Win11 update
Earlier tonight I got the big Windows 11 fall update (known as 22H2). It confirmed my worst fears in that it broke WSJT functionality, but unlike previous times, it wasn't just a matter of going in and re-selecting the appropriate sound device. With this update, in WSJT, the only sound options to choose are the default Windows system audio options (Microphone (USB Audio CODEC) and (Line IN (Realtek Audio). In the Windows Sound control panel the K3s options are there (they were renamed back to default values, but as I do every time one of these stupid updates comes through, I rename them so I know for sure which entries are which in this list), but they are *not* there in WSJT. Any ideas how to get these back? I'm the furthest thing from a Windows expert, and it seems like every new version causes more damage that average users are incapable of fixing on their own. I've got a sneaking suspicion that this is going to become a major issue for a lot of users as more people get the 22H2 update, unless it's just a simple fix. Regards, Peter Dougherty, W2IRT __ 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] COM port problems
Thanks for this. I will try to see what the COM devices are supposedly
connected to when it's in failure mode but it's all very cryptic.
I have already deleted old phantom devices during the first phase of
troubleshooting, as well as deleted all unnecessary software from the system.
The problem of *ALL* COM ports being shown as busy upon reboot persists.
- pjd
-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On
Behalf Of Dave B via Elecraft
Sent: Sunday, July 3, 2022 7:00 AM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] COM port problems
FYI...
Windows users, can use these utilities to find out what is/was connected to
their PC's by USB etc...
USBview: A Microsoft (was System Internals who MS bought) tool.
The easiest way to find it is here:- https://ftdichip.com/utilities/ "Microsoft
USBView - USB Connection Viewer"
There is a link to download a zipfile that contains it:-
https://ftdichip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/usbview.zip
That contains a single stand-alone exe file that is the utility. Put it in a
folder of it's own, and create a shortcut to it for your desktop.
(Also a link to a Linux version, that does work, but needs compiling from
source, and running using sudo as it needs elevated rights to read the running
configuration files to get the information to display.)
Another similar tool is USBDview
https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html
That shows a much more detailed list of what Windows knows about, that is, any
USB device that was ever connected since windows was initially installed,
regardless of if it was ever used!
You can also delete instances of old / defunct devices easily with this very
useful tool.
(Some AV tools say it's suspect or malicious. Use VirusTotal.com to verify if
it (or anything else) is bad, on a file by file, or webpage basis. )
Note that if for whatever reason Windows (or Linux) re-enumerates things, the
linkage between a physical device and it's COM port number can (and often
does!) change. Seemingly at the will of some minor deity somewhere... That
of course, will break any software that expects some specific device to be at a
specific COM port.
Windows has the means to "Fix" that. (Known to work up to Win10, that I have
personally tested it on.) Find those details here:-
https://sourceforge.net/p/fldigi/wiki/windows_com_howto/
I wrote much of that after hours of "fun" some years ago... As above, it
works well with Win-10.
For Linux users, look up and explore the world of "udev rules". But...
They are only really easy to setup, if a USB device has a unique "something" in
it's USB descriptor, that the OS uses to identify it. Such as a Serial Number.
FTDI devices have unique sn's, but Prolific, SiLabs and others sadly do not.
So, it gets funky if you have several of the same type of device that all "look
the same" to the OS.
(Newer genuine FTDI devices also have the ability to have that serial number
(and some other settings) re-programmed! Fakes seem to take the
reprogramming, but the new data does not "stick". Don't ask how I found that
out!)
However, you can use the "connection path" between the OS and the Device, as a
deciding factor, but then you are forced into hooking everything up "EXACTLY"
the same each time. (Hub's and all...) But it does work.
Using them, you create "symbolic links" to the actual port used, so for example
my VHF radio appears as /dev/ttyFT736 Regardless of which hole I connect it's
associated FTDI serial adapter to on the PC (or via any
hubs!) Or what /dev/ttyUSB* the OS re-assigns it to if things are
re-enumerated for whatever reason.)
For example, this is the rule for my ancient FT-736
#FT-736r
SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ATTRS{serial}=="A50285BI", SYMLINK+="ttyFT736"
Flrig and most other software both accept symlinks and work well.
(For the odd software title that insists on using the full /dev/ttyUSBx for
example, they often store their settings in a file that can often be edited
with a text editor, where you can in effect force-feed it the symlink. The
fun part is finding where that is stored!)
The exact details of how to use udev rules are way to much for this list, but
as usual, there are many websites that can furnish such info, plus some
examples. Has to be said though, different "flavors" of Linux, often store
such rules in subtly different places to others.
I have zero experience of Apple Mac's. But they use a custom version of BSD as
their OS, that is more like Unix than Linux. So it is likely some if not all
of the above could work on them too. If Apple let you dig that deep and
meddle...
Hope some of the above helps, and or gives people some ideas how to tame things.
73.
Dave G0WBX(G8KBV)
--
Created on and sent from a Unix like PC running and using free and open source
software:
__
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Home:
Re: [Elecraft] Com Port Problems
Yes, that is likely my next step, an in-place reinstall. I do not have the time to fully reconfigure the system so I can't do a bare metal install job. It's my work computer as well as my ham computer, and work MUST take precedence on it. - pjd -Original Message- From: Lyn Norstad Sent: Saturday, July 2, 2022 3:01 PM To: 'Peter Dougherty (W2IRT)' ; 'Wilson Lamb' ; 'elecraft' Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Com Port Problems Peter - If you're sure that the problem is not what we addressed, then I suggest you reinstall Windows 11. Presumably you're using the " Pro " edition. If not, switch to that one. The latest build is # 22000.778 released on 06/23/2022 (last week). Instructions here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/june-23-2022-kb5014668-os-build-22000-778-preview-2b5f1da6-d602-48b4-b443-96b460e3c38d 73 Lyn, W0LEN -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Peter Dougherty (W2IRT) Sent: Friday, July 01, 2022 5:22 PM To: 'Wilson Lamb'; 'elecraft' Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Com Port Problems The problem isn't the Elecraft radio, or the COM ports, it's a defect of some nature within Windows 11 that has suddenly manifested itself. I've tried all the usual troubleshooting problems and no-go, and even a Microsoft 2nd Level guy spent three hours with me on the phone and did it all again and still couldn’t' find it. Making things work "once" isnt' too difficult. Making everything work 100% reliably *repeatedly*, as it has been for years, is the problem. I really hate the fact that it took SO long for ham radio manufacturers to move away from RS-232 to pure USB, and only recently to TCP/IP, which is the correct way of doing things in my opinion. - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Wilson Lamb via Elecraft Sent: Friday, July 1, 2022 2:18 PM To: elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] Com Port Problems Please read my rant about Ham Qualifications and Technology. We are at the mercy of MANY programmers and "software engineers." The operating system people have no resistance to making things steadily more obscure and complicated. They don't know or care what the programmers of our many programs are doing and have little incentive to find out. The programmers typically have only a nodding acquaintance with what the Operating System really does and don't have time/ability to find out. WE are way out on a thin limb that gets more and more likely to break or sag down to the ground. All the people mentioned above are whittling away at the limb, each contributing to its weakness/impending breakage, and none have much incentive to help US. I really hope you find it and I guarantee, if you do, there will be a gotcha that someone will tell you should have seen and that will make you feel inadequate! In this area, we are all inadequate! I know this doesn't help. It's meant as sympathy. I have been building and using computers since the 50s, when I helped build one that used relays and I still have NO interest in software except to say what it should do, at which I've been pretty successful. Good luck and remember, there are knobs on the radio and they will probably work for you, since the software in the radio has likely had a few years to get sorted out and the worst bugs found. WL __ 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 li...@w2irt.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 l...@lnainc.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Heil Pro 7 headset with KX3 - RF feedback?
I have never owned a Heil that didn't give me problems at some point in its life. It's always something. I gave up a long time ago and bought an Arlan Communications radiosport headset. It's more expensive but it's absolutely amazing. No clamping on my head, no mechanical construction problems, and dare I say it, mechanically overbuilt for severe duty. I would trust their products for communicating on a desert island or the southern ocean. It Just Works. - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Drew Arnett Sent: Saturday, July 2, 2022 2:08 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Heil Pro 7 headset with KX3 - RF feedback? Ignored this for quite a while, but came back to take a look this morning. Sharing in case it helps someone else out in the future. I think the jack on the headset itself has an intermittent and/or faulty connection. That's why trying the straight cable (which I never use) as Heil suggested didn't help me narrow it down before. (I always used the curly cable and left the straight one in the box.) Symptoms I see today: KX3 on battery. RF power level set to 0 watts (so no RF feedback of course). Mon set to 4. Gear: Pro 7 headset. Heil Y cable (for mic/foot switch) but using the little hand/button switch Heil includes, a cheap pair of Walkman style earphones, and a homebrew electret handmic (that also requires 5V bias). No difference between curly cord that I normally use and the straight cable that I never took out of the box. In all cases, I use the Y cable. Notice the combinations that work and don't work: * walkman head phones & homebrew handmic - works OK * walkman head phones & pro 7 mic - works OK * pro 7 headphones & homebrew handmic - works OK * pro 7 headphones & pro 7 mic - ***PROBLEM*** I suspect the feedback path is due to wiring fault causing the headphone audio return to share path with microphone return causing IxR coupling. (I hate the term ground loop, but there you go.) Wiggle testing. Nothing at the jack/plug interfaces on the radio (mic, headphone). Nothing on the jack/plug interfaces on the Y cable. Ah, the jack/plug on the headset definitely has some sort of mechanical intermittent at the least. And it does for both the curly cable and the straight cable. So, it's the headset and not the cable. :-( So, off to Heil for repair. (Looks like snap plastic/spudger tool work, which I'm not really interested in doing.) Or to perhaps shop for something more reliable? Best regards, Drew n7da On Sat, Jul 3, 2021 at 9:05 PM Drew Arnett wrote: > > No luck sorting this out in the field during FD, especially with a > workaround available. (Alternative mic.) I'd like to resolve it if > possible before replacing the Pro 7, the KX3, or both. :-O So, now > that I'm unpacked at home, I'll try a simple setup for debugging. > > Trouble shooting setup now: KX3 (with new, charged internal NiMH), > Pro 7 with Y cable and that little clip on PTT switch they include, 3 > FT coax to (shielded) dummy load. Electret mic element. MIC BIAS on, > CMP 0, PWR 5, 14 MHz, SSB. > > With MON 0, no RF output indicated while transmitting and speaking or > whistling for MIC GAIN 0 to 80. > > With MON 3 (a level I like for CW sidetone) and PTT on, doesn't matter > if I'm speaking/whistling or not. The RF output indicates nothing > until about MIC GAIN 70 when it abruptly comes up with a harsh sound. > Other electret microphone sounds fine at MIC GAIN 60. > > This is probably something simple. I just haven't found it, yet. > > Thanks, > > Drew > n7da > > On Thu, Jun 17, 2021 at 3:36 AM Drew Arnett wrote: > > > > Shield of mic jack goes to bare metal Elecraft thoughtfully left on > > the chassis metal. 10 nF shunt to ground. (Need to see where that > > is, but hopefully SMT and with very small loop area.) Sheet 9: > > https://ftp.elecraft.com/KX3/Manuals%20Downloads/KX3SchematicDiagram > > Dec2012.pdf > > > > Heil suggests on their tips page generous ferrite choking of all 3 > > leads of their Y adapter cable: > > https://heilhamradio.com/support/tips/ > > > > Drew > > n7da > > > > On Thu, Jun 17, 2021 at 3:23 AM Drew Arnett wrote: > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > In the KX3 for Field Day department, we plan to use it for the > > > GOTA station for phone on HF. (Yes, will have antennas not on top > > > of each other and bandpass filters on ALL radios.) Would be great > > > to setup with a headset and foot switch. > > > > > > Last weekend, I used my KX3 barefoot on 6 and with a > > > transverters-store.com transverter (also barefoot) for 2. 6m > > > antenna was 2 elements about 15 ft above the ground and 2m antenna > > > 6 elements at 10 feet above the ground. > > > > > > I worked a couple of contacts on 2m phone with the headset. > > > Later, when I tried to use the headset for phone on 6, seemed like > > > I was having a feedback problem. Cabling was the stock cabling > > > that comes
Re: [Elecraft] Com Port Problems
The problem isn't the Elecraft radio, or the COM ports, it's a defect of some nature within Windows 11 that has suddenly manifested itself. I've tried all the usual troubleshooting problems and no-go, and even a Microsoft 2nd Level guy spent three hours with me on the phone and did it all again and still couldn’t' find it. Making things work "once" isnt' too difficult. Making everything work 100% reliably *repeatedly*, as it has been for years, is the problem. I really hate the fact that it took SO long for ham radio manufacturers to move away from RS-232 to pure USB, and only recently to TCP/IP, which is the correct way of doing things in my opinion. - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Wilson Lamb via Elecraft Sent: Friday, July 1, 2022 2:18 PM To: elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] Com Port Problems Please read my rant about Ham Qualifications and Technology. We are at the mercy of MANY programmers and "software engineers." The operating system people have no resistance to making things steadily more obscure and complicated. They don't know or care what the programmers of our many programs are doing and have little incentive to find out. The programmers typically have only a nodding acquaintance with what the Operating System really does and don't have time/ability to find out. WE are way out on a thin limb that gets more and more likely to break or sag down to the ground. All the people mentioned above are whittling away at the limb, each contributing to its weakness/impending breakage, and none have much incentive to help US. I really hope you find it and I guarantee, if you do, there will be a gotcha that someone will tell you should have seen and that will make you feel inadequate! In this area, we are all inadequate! I know this doesn't help. It's meant as sympathy. I have been building and using computers since the 50s, when I helped build one that used relays and I still have NO interest in software except to say what it should do, at which I've been pretty successful. Good luck and remember, there are knobs on the radio and they will probably work for you, since the software in the radio has likely had a few years to get sorted out and the worst bugs found. WL __ 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 li...@w2irt.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] COM port problems
The issue is far deeper than this. None of the COM ports work normally after starting the system. Occasionally the radio connects to the software normally, other times it doesn't. If I have it working with N1MM, close down N1MM and try to start Commander (DX Labs) it won't work initially, but if I try it 3 or 4 times in a row it will connect normally. Ditto with my two rotors. Those are the only serial ports in my system. The K3s, my 6m rotor (Rotor-EZ board in the controller box) and a Green Heron RT-20 (serial-to-USB, not pure USB like the newer RT-21). For whatever reason, there is *something* holding all the installed/configured COM ports open and unavailable. I cannot find that "something." - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Geoffrey Feldman Sent: Friday, July 1, 2022 1:23 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] COM port problems These is nothing unique about the Elecraft serial cable except possibly the radio side connector. Basically it's a USB to RS232 Ground/transmit/Receive cable. Anyone who understands USB com ports can help you. They don't need to know radio. They should understand what I wrote here. For USB COM port problems (with anything, including these). Run DEVMGR (I do this by entering that in the search bar) In Devmgr "View" menu , click / check "Show Hidden Devices" Look in the list for "Ports(COM & LPT) Expand that to the sub list You will see a list of ports there in the sub list. Some are grayed out, those are not connected. Plug in your Elecraft serial cable. Is there a change? You should see a grayed out one now dark (enabled) (as COM 1 is) That is the number of the Elecraft port. OR ... a new one just appears. This sometimes happens. That is the new number of the Elecraft port. (This is a likely outcome). Make a note of anything in devmgr list, this may help Elecraft help you but I expect you will have figured it out with the above steps. If this does not work, try other USB ports on your computer with the above procedure. If this does not work, try the Elecraft cable on a friends computer (the driver for Elecraft is pretty standard you don't need the radio to check the cable). If this does not work, you need a Elecraft serial cable. You can also look in the cable and make one. There are USB to RS232 cables you can change the connector to match the cable description in the manual. Others available may have the same connector but TX and RX are reversed. Some are already the same as elecraft. W1GCF Geoff __ 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 li...@w2irt.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] COM port problems
Reassigning port numbers did not solve the problem, and I did try that as one of the first steps in troubleshooting. With one day’s work under my belt here’s where the situation lies as of tonight. 1. After a cold reboot, the first attempt to launch either CI-V Commander (DX Labs rig interface) or N1MM Logger + may or may not capture the COM5 port used for CAT control (which was briefly changed to COM8 then changed back after finding no change). 2. Launching either the old version of N1MM Rotor (v12.11) or the current .NET version, there’s about a very slim chance that it will work, but the usual result is that on attempting to start the rotor software it indicates both rotor com ports (COM1 and COM3) are already in use, and any attempt to invoke a direction command generates an error message (8018, IIRC) stating the function can only work if a port is open. 3. Using the DX Lab “DX View” software, which interfaces with the rotor control software, if I repeatedly enable/disable the rotor control tick box, it **MAY** come back, and will keep working until the program is closed. 4. If CAT control is in fact established, whether through N1MM or Commander, it will remain active until the program is closed. Once closed, either reopening it or opening the other control software will result in either program not being able to see the radio (i.e. the port remains locked out). Note than if it is Commander that is closed and N1MM does not see the radio at first, if I hit the “Reset Radio” bar in the bandmap several times it does seem to come back and start working again. 5. Every other function of the PC is working the same as it always has, and once a COM port feature is working it remains working flawlessly. 6. Troubleshooting has involved using Process Explorer to see if any devices are holding a port open when the problem is occurring, and none appear to be doing so. Phantom COM ports were removed, all USB devices were set to fix the issue of stopping the device for power saving (I hoped that one would work, but it didn’t), and all USB Serial drivers were deleted and allowed to reinstall themselves upon reboot. The results were identical. In short, it appears to me that there is SOMETHING within Windows 11 that has changed somehow, and is locking serial ports on its own, with no easy way to release them. - pjd From: Lyn Norstad Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2022 8:46 PM To: 'Julia Tuttle' Cc: 'Peter Dougherty (W2IRT)' ; 'George Thornton' ; 'Elecraft' Subject: RE: [Elecraft] COM port problems Julie – I can look for it … but I don’t believe it was in an official MSFT document. Nevertheless, it has been going on for a couple years. It seems to affect almost every ham using Win 10 sooner or later. My understanding is that one or more specific Windows 10 Pro 64 updates reassigned COM ports in order to prevent a potential hacker from accessing the system. It may have been related to the presence of specific software installed on the system. In any event, the fix I mentioned does indeed work and ends the problem. George may have other issues, since he’s already tried this 73 Lyn, W0LEN From: Julia Tuttle [mailto:ju...@juliatuttle.net] Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2022 2:47 PM To: l...@lnainc.com <mailto:l...@lnainc.com> Cc: Peter Dougherty (W2IRT); George Thornton; Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] COM port problems Lyn, Can you share your source that COM port reassignment is a deliberate security feature? I'm curious what vulnerability it's mitigating. Thanks, Julie On Thu, Jun 30, 2022 at 3:25 PM Lyn Norstad mailto:l...@lnainc.com> > wrote: Are you running Windows 10 by any chance? As a security measure, Win 10 automatic updates often reassign COM port numbers. If you know how to do it, you can rename and reassign port numbers. If you give them a number of 20 or higher, Win 10 update will leave them alone. Hint: Control Panel>Device Manager>Ports>(Elecraft connection port)>General>Advanced>COM Port Number Be sure to make the corresponding port number change in the software. 73 Lyn, W0LEN -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net <mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net> [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net <mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net> ] On Behalf Of Peter Dougherty (W2IRT) Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2022 12:28 AM To: 'George Thornton'; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net <mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] COM port problems It's possible (and I'm guessing somehow likely), but darned if I know what to even look for. These are things that were set when the computer was built from scratch last year, they have worked 100% reliably over thousands of QSOs in both Commander and N1MM+ ever since, and absolutely nothing was changed in terms of configuration or even a Windows Update
Re: [Elecraft] COM port problems
It's possible (and I'm guessing somehow likely), but darned if I know what to even look for. These are things that were set when the computer was built from scratch last year, they have worked 100% reliably over thousands of QSOs in both Commander and N1MM+ ever since, and absolutely nothing was changed in terms of configuration or even a Windows Update in at least two weeks. I just needed to restart the computer after moving it from a wall outlet to a UPS, and it started going crazy from that point on. Whatever the issue is, it seems to affect ALL the COM ports in the system the same; neither Commander nor N1MM can open the radio port, or either of the two rotor ports. I did somehow manage to get Commander working (don't aske me how, it just started), but the rotors are still no-go (and not critical at the moment). - pjd From: George Thornton Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2022 10:23 PM To: Peter Dougherty (W2IRT) ; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] COM port problems It is possible the parameters set in the computer after reboot don't match those set in the program. Check the port and baud settings. Generally xom port settings need to match for communication to occur. Sent from my Galaxy Original message From: "Peter Dougherty (W2IRT)" mailto:li...@w2irt.net> > Date: 6/29/22 6:59 PM (GMT-08:00) To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net <mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Subject: [Elecraft] COM port problems OK, got a massive problem that just cropped up this evening that is far beyond my understanding that has completely killed my ability to use my K3 with my computer. After restarting the PC, suddenly I cannot communicate with the radio using DX Lab Suite or N1MM+ on the assigned COM port. I have downloaded the K3 Utility software and it is able to connect to the radio on COM5, its usual port, and invoke macros via the Utility. So I know there's proper communication between the radio and the PC. But once I close down the K3 Utility program I get the first major problem. The radio goes into transmit for 10 seconds, releases for about 4 or 5 second, and goes back in to transmit. Only powering the radio off and back on again stops this behavior. The main issue is that no CAT control software seems to be able to connect to the radio at all. The radio is on COM5, and has been for at least the last 4 or 5 years, and until today it has just worked, even after building a new computer last November. I just rebooted today and everything went to heck. The kicker is that's it's not a K3 hardware problem, and since it works with neither N1MM nor DX Lab software any more it's apparently not those programs either, and quite frankly I just don't know where to look next. Compounding the issue, and likely related to it, the N1MM Rotor control cannot find either COM port assigned to the rotors (COM1 and COM3). I have tried removing the ports and re-adding them in Device Manager but the problem still persists. I am absolutely prepared to pay a certified systems professional to diagnose and fix this, but with ultra-specialized radio gear I doubt they'd be able to figure it out either. Any suggestions? I'm basically QRT until I can fix this. ---- Regards, Peter Dougherty, W2IRT DXCC Card Checker/CQ-WAZ Checkpoint www.facebook.com/W2IRT <http://www.facebook.com/W2IRT> __ 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 gthorn...@thorntonmostullaw.com <mailto:gthorn...@thorntonmostullaw.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] COM port problems
OK, got a massive problem that just cropped up this evening that is far beyond my understanding that has completely killed my ability to use my K3 with my computer. After restarting the PC, suddenly I cannot communicate with the radio using DX Lab Suite or N1MM+ on the assigned COM port. I have downloaded the K3 Utility software and it is able to connect to the radio on COM5, its usual port, and invoke macros via the Utility. So I know there's proper communication between the radio and the PC. But once I close down the K3 Utility program I get the first major problem. The radio goes into transmit for 10 seconds, releases for about 4 or 5 second, and goes back in to transmit. Only powering the radio off and back on again stops this behavior. The main issue is that no CAT control software seems to be able to connect to the radio at all. The radio is on COM5, and has been for at least the last 4 or 5 years, and until today it has just worked, even after building a new computer last November. I just rebooted today and everything went to heck. The kicker is that's it's not a K3 hardware problem, and since it works with neither N1MM nor DX Lab software any more it's apparently not those programs either, and quite frankly I just don't know where to look next. Compounding the issue, and likely related to it, the N1MM Rotor control cannot find either COM port assigned to the rotors (COM1 and COM3). I have tried removing the ports and re-adding them in Device Manager but the problem still persists. I am absolutely prepared to pay a certified systems professional to diagnose and fix this, but with ultra-specialized radio gear I doubt they'd be able to figure it out either. Any suggestions? I'm basically QRT until I can fix this. Regards, Peter Dougherty, W2IRT DXCC Card Checker/CQ-WAZ Checkpoint www.facebook.com/W2IRT __ 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] KX2: Transmit Power 10m Band
Dear Reed, Send mail to this reflector as "Text only" or both text and HTML for all HTML markup text is skipped by this qth.net mailing list. Your mails are received as completely blank by all of us as shown below my message. Best 73, Peter - PA0PJE Op 29-04-2022 om 01:12 schreef Reed Fite: __ 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 pa0...@xs4all.nl __ 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] Simulated Stereo
Hi Bob, Yuck! Indeed that's what I would say also. I for one can't stand anti-phased headphones. I once discussed that over using stereo-headphones being fed at tip and ring and left the common open. The comment was: No one hears that. Well I do! Splitting mono into high and low pitched sound seems fine at start but fatigues just as much as anti-phase. Only the spacial setting on the KX3 is very useful but even then I like to switch back to mono at times. Just my €0,01 73 Peter - PA0PJE Op 28-12-2021 om 02:18 schreef Bob McGraw: Yuck! As a retired recording studio engineer, CBS Records, having the same signal out of phase by 180 degrees to one ear, is much like sticking and ice pick in ones ears. Most systems will have a variable phase shift depending on frequency, usually not to exceed 30 degrees. In this case, the leading phase signal will appear from that direction. In others, bandpass filtering moves the higher frequency to one side and the lower to the other. From an audio perspective, this still sounds like "fake stereo". It is just messed up monaural. There's lots of that today. The K3S has the AFX function that does an excellent job of signal spatialization and sounds quite nice on SSB signals. 73 > Bob, K4TAX __ 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] Stripping & Tinning Enameled Wire - Fast, Easy, Reliably
Hi Gwen, I love my Hakko FR301 de-soldering gun but, while I've used a variety of melt/burn techniques for enamel wire insulation, I had not thought of using the de-soldering tool. I haven't noticed anyone mention wire stripping tweezers, which I've found to be a really handy tool when making inductors with a variety of wire sizes. I settled on a single size tweezer: https://au.element14.com/knipex/15-11-120/wire-stripper-0-6mm/dp/875958?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6Ongl-b99AIVwg5yCh3cgwwJEAQYASABEgLFsPD_BwE=_dc|pcrid|501152839127|pkw||pmt||slid||product|875958|pgrid|123988903131|ptaid|pla-293946777986|=KNC-GAU-GEN-SMART-SHOPPING Purists would probably have a few different sizes but the one referenced deals with my requirements for small receiving toroids, up to (e.g.) the LPF inductors in the 2200 m PA I've just finished (about 16 AWG, as I recall). These tweezers are very sharp and quite compact, so they can be angled to optimize the tinned lengths on e.g. partially-mounted toroids. It's a slightly longer and calmer process than the melt/burn approach. 73, Peter (VK6HP). -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Gwen Patton Sent: Saturday, 25 December 2021 3:53 AM To: Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Stripping & Tinning Enameled Wire - Fast, Easy, Reliably I'd love to have one of those vacuum desoldering tools. I feel in techno-lust with them watching Mr. Carlson's Lab on YouTube. I might try that trick you discovered, but I found that my electronic plasma arc lighter burns off enamel on anything but the thickest of magnet wire. Hold the wire with pliers, though, the inductance heats the wire very fast, and the enamel burns off in a twinkling. I'd avoid using the plasma arc trick on a toroid already soldered to the board at the other end. That might let out more than a little bit of magic smoke. 73, Gwen, NG3P On Fri, Dec 24, 2021, 12:35 PM CUTTER DAVID via Elecraft < elecraft@mailman.qth.net> wrote: > > __ > 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 > ard...@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 p.h...@curtin.edu.au __ 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] feeding a half-wave dipole with ladder line
Ed, I missed your initial posting but just FYI I do something similar to what you describe. I re-purpose a ZS6BKW HF doublet several ways, using vacuum relay switching, to give (1) a 160 m base loaded vertical using a rudimentary elevated counterpoise and (2) a 630 m Marconi T fed against "real" ground. At the lower frequencies the 450 ohm ladder line (which normally forms the matching section for the ZS6BKW) becomes a top-loaded radiator (being shorted to form a single conductor), with additional base loading via separate homebrew couplers for 160 m and 630 m. In doublet mode the impedance at the bottom of the ZS6BKW matching section is 50 ohm, so I use a quality 1:1 current balun with an RG213 coax feeder to the shack. If you use a different doublet and vertical ladder line lengths you can calculate the impedance at the base of the ladder line and choose the best balun for the job. My setup is very much a compromise on a suburban block but does allow decent 630 m operation, along with HF capability. 73, Peter. -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Ed Cole Sent: Sunday, 31 October 2021 7:26 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] feeding a half-wave dipole with ladder line Bob, Either you did not read what I wrote carefully enough, or I did a poor job of explaining. First off: I an not a HF DX chaser or HF Contest junkie. HF is a very occasional activity when I want a casual chat or check in a local net. Thus a compromise antenna for the "low bands". The existing 80/40m dipole is a fan dipole with 80 and 40m wires. I plan the new setup to run 40m at right angles for less interaction between them (been there done it experience). If all I wanted to do is 80/40 I would install the existing 1:1 balun at the feed and run coax to it. But I was thinking I could use window wire (commercially made) instead of the 12-inch parallel wires I show in the diagram. Whatever its impedance (probably like 300-ohm or 450). By shorting the ladder line I could feed the antennas as a shortened vertical on either 160m or 630m where the dipole wire would add "top-hat" loading. Similar to how the horizontal wire in an inverted-L works. I already have my 630m loading coil to use at the base; adding a tap it could work at 160m. I have vacuum relays to do the shorting. And yes there will be radials that are too short on 630m (1/4 wave is 522 feet and my property is 200x 300 foot). My question regarded choosing a proper balun to use on 80 & 40m. Running 140 foot of ladder wire on diagonal to the shack defeats using it as a vertical. Ideal would be a QRO ATU at the ground-end of the vertical wires (but I'm too cheap for that). I have a QRO Drake Tuner to do the job at the shack. I'll try out my 1:1 balun. 73, Ed - KL7UW __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX3 paddle connector
That is exactly what I did, Rich and Paul... The "connector" I used was a 2 pin connector that is/was in use in computers to connect activity LED's and reset buttons to the main board. They fit perfectly and can be salvaged from nearly any old PC. Use the two right hand upper and lower pins and put the front key setting to "hand" 73, Peter-PA0PJE On 2021-26-10 at 00:26 Rich WC3T wrote: I knew this article would come in handy. http://ag6qr.net/index.php/how-to-use-a-straight-key-and-paddles-together-on-a-kx3/ On Oct 25, 2021, at 18:13, Paul Huff wrote: I have been exploring options for connecting a paddle, bug, or straight key, to the front edge connector on my new KX3, and some of you have shared ideas and suggestions with me. I greatly appreciate everything that has been given. But I also contacted Elecraft technical support and asked them about that unusual square 4-pin connection and they sent me a link to the actual part supplier that they use. (Click here <https://www.samtec.com/products/ssq-102-02-f-d-ra>) That is outstanding customer support! I haven’t decided what I am going to do yet but I sure am enjoying this new rig! 73, Paul - N8XMS 100% QRP CW __ 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...@wc3t.us __ 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 pa0...@xs4all.nl __ 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] HELP! XFINITY SHUT OFF INTERNET DUE TO HAM ANTENNAS
We just switched to getting internet through T-Mobile, a cell phone connection. It's a hotspot, but fairly large and more capable than the little dongles. Not blazingly fast, but good, and reasonably priced. Peter W0LLN On Wed, Oct 20, 2021 at 1:22 PM eric norris via Elecraft < elecraft@mailman.qth.net> wrote: > Dear Gang: > Xfinity, our internet provider, showed up at 7:30am this morning, to > explain to the XYL that we were being cut off for good because my amateur > radio activities had caused wide area outages. Oddly, these wide area > outages did not include my own house. They told her the antennas > themselves--absent any power--were the problem > The last time I was threatened, I installed chokes and opto-isolaters on > our shielded ethernet lines, and after being told they use 14Mhz as their > carrier frequency, I have stayed off 20m, only using 100w unless I'm in a > rare contest. I asked to speak to a technical guy--they gave me a number > which I called, but he never called back. > Any Ideas? Does anyone have a contact at the ARRL, or know a > communications lawyer? Comcast/Xfinity will be back out here at 2pm > Pacific time--I'd appreciate any help. > My XYL depends on an internet connection to work. Being off the air is > unimaginable. > Frantic, > > 73, Eric WD6DBM > >  > __ > 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 peter.wol...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Is Kenwood listening?
I'll also note that the TS-890S example quoted surfaces in relatively few station setups and requires the operator to be determined in ignoring one of a couple of work-arounds. However, the point about manufacturer responsiveness is well made. I doubt that I will be making any modifications to my TS-890S, though. Apart from having low transmit IMD and good ALC dynamics (including no overshoot) the TS-890S works well with the KPA1500 and similar amplifiers, in part because of the per-band, per-mode power setting and limiting, and the pre-settable tune powers. I understand that Elecraft and several other US manufacturers also implement similar systems, which mitigate a number of potentially embarrassing (or worse) brain/finger problems. Manufacturers such as Icom and Yaesu could usefully catch up. 73, Peter (VK6HP) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Jim Brown Sent: Wednesday, 22 September 2021 7:37 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Is Kenwood listening? On 9/21/2021 12:58 PM, Andy Durbin wrote: > I have been personally involved with the investigation of several TS-590S > issues, either as the principal investigator/reporter, or supporting someone > else who found the problem. Kenwood fixed all these issues with firmware > updates, in one case issuing an update within a couple of weeks of receiving > the first report. Great news both here and from Wes. Kenwood is certainly the JA mfr who has done the most to minimize clicks, their rigs test well at ARRL Labs. In general, I found their user interface the most intuitive on the rigs I've owned, especially the TH-F6A, which is still my favorite talkie. Their new D74 digital talkie is the exception -- I couldn't do much of anything without digging out the printouts I'd made of the pdf manual, and it died just after warranty ended. The last of their HF rigs I've owned was a pair of TS850s. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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 p.h...@curtin.edu.au __ 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] KPA1500 Power Level
Hello Barry, I'm not a CW op but use my KPA1500 a lot at the sort of output levels you're interested in (for obvious reasons). My operations are largely SSB, with the occasional JT mode digital on 160 m and 6 m. I have not found the KPA1500 power output stability to be an issue, despite the fact that the efficiency is degraded. The heatsink temperatures are certainly no worse than at higher power operation and the only real penalty is a small hip-pocket one when the power bill arrives. On the IMD front my own quick measurements show that the overall picture is also no worse than at high power but it's not much better either, although the higher order products are a bit lower. The KPA1500 manual is a poor effort for a premium product and, in areas like IMD specifications and any associated discussion, it's almost an exercise in studied disingenuity. An abiding irritation is the lack of a decent block diagram showing e.g. the connection points for signal and control lines. In the end, the amplifier is a good one although given our antipodean locations, it'd pay to review the SPE and other offerings both in technical and support terms. Personally, I like the Elecraft form factor and the relatively large amount of air in the two-box implementation. My relatively early serial number RF deck has been back to the US once for service and upgrade and, while I was particularly grateful to a few Elecraft people for help at an obviously difficult time (CV19), the overall experience was very average. 73, Peter (VK6HP). -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Barry Simpson Sent: Wednesday, 15 September 2021 6:15 AM To: Elecraft Mailing List Subject: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level I have had a quick look through the KPA1500 manual and could not find any reference to running the amplifier at a lower power level than the rated 1,500w. Can anyone comment on the implications (eg temperature, efficiency and IMD) of running a KPA1500 at say 500w by simply reducing the drive power. Would the power level be stable if set to 500w or would it drift upwards or downwards during the course of an over on CW ? Thanks Barry Simpson VK2BJ __ 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 p.h...@curtin.edu.au __ 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] K4: "R" in display
Yes,Ludwig, it works OK, now! I use Thunderbird as well and have set it to plain text from the start using it. I am against any markup. It has been asked many times to change that on the qth.net mailman and many times was responded with "no" by the maintainers. Users that send both should know that markup is removed and only the plain text part is distributed. Data is money so keep the data as small as possible. 73, Peter Op 09-09-2021 om 13:46 schreef Ludwig Hechler: Oops, I'm sorry! I configured my Thunderbird and hope it works now. Here is my text again. Hi folks, finally my K4 has arrived in DL. And here is my first question. What is the "R" in the display below the filter icon of the SUB RX? The upper part of the "R" is white, the lower part is yellow. Some illustrations in the Introduction to the Elecraft K4, e.g. the page RECEIVER CONTROLS AND ICONS, show the icon K4D at this position. Mine is a basic K4 without D. thanks & 73, Lui, DL6FBR __ 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] K4: "R" in display
Hi Ludwig, You should write mails in plain text on this reflector. HTML-only mails come through completely empty. Attachments are also not allowed and will be stripped as well! 73, Peter - PA0PJE Op 09-09-2021 om 08:37 schreef Ludwig Hechler: __ 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 pa0...@xs4all.nl __ 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] Elecraft Digest, Vol 208, Issue 13
Message 17 How much for the K3 package ….call me 760-318-0186 Peter VE7REZ Sent from my iPhone > On Aug 24, 2021, at 3:04 PM, elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net wrote: > > Send Elecraft mailing list submissions to >elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit >http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to >elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at >elecraft-ow...@mailman.qth.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Elecraft digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: K4 operating manual now available as both .pdf and .html > (David Gilbert) > 2. Re: KX2 temperature (Howard Hoyt) > 3. Re: Reversed K4 Rear Panel Drawing (Bill Steffey NY9H) > 4. Re: KX2 temperature (Gary Slagel) > 5. Re: K3S audio quality issue [SOLVED] (Michael Kholodov) > 6. Elecraft CW Net Report (kevin) > 7. Re: K3S audio quality issue [SOLVED] (jerry) > 8. Re: K3S audio quality issue [SOLVED] (Henk de Vries) > 9. Re: K3S audio quality issue [SOLVED] (Mike Kholodov) > 10. KIO2 and KUSB for K2? (Paul Huff) > 11. Re: KIO2 and KUSB for K2? (jerry) > 12. 40 METER NET / 80 METER NET 8-22-21 (Steve Hall) > 13. Re: KIO2 and KUSB for K2? (Don Wilhelm) > 14. Re: KIO2 and KUSB for K2? (Paul Huff) > 15. Any update on KIO3BUPKT_KIO3B Upgrade Kits for the K3 (Bill Wiehe) > 16. For Sale: KX3 + KXPA100 + PX3 + MH3 (VA7KL) > 17. For Sale: K3S + KPA500 + KAT500 + P3 + TXSensor + MH2 (VA7KL) > 18. Ground Wire & Coax (James Bennett) > 19. Re: Ground Wire & Coax (Phil Kane) > 20. Re: Ground Wire & Coax (Jim Brown) > 21. Re: For Sale: K3S + KPA500 + KAT500 + P3 + TXSensor + MH2 (Dave) > 22. Re: Ground Wire & Coax (James Bennett) > 23. Re: Ground Wire & Coax (Walter Underwood) > 24. Re: Ground Wire & Coax (Jim Brown) > 25. Re: Ground Wire & Coax (Phil Kane) > 26. KX3, PX3, KXPA00 for trade or sale. (marvwhee...@nwlink.com) > > > -- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2021 20:35:28 -0700 > From: David Gilbert > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K4 operating manual now available as both .pdf >and .html > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed > > > I never understood why Elecraft put out the PDF file as white text on a > black background in the first place.? It can't be printed, and if you > have to read it online the html version makes more sense.? It just seems > lazy to me for them not to have converted it on their end. > > Dave?? AB7E > > > > On 8/21/2021 7:29 PM, Alan Bloom wrote: >>> NOTE:? The operating manual has a black background >> >> I can make the manual (K4 Built-In Operating Manual, rev C9.pdf) look >> the way I want on the screen (black text on a white background with >> images rendered in correct colors) in Adobe Reader by selecting: >> >> Edit > Preferences > Accessibility >> >> and then: >> >> select "Replace Document Colors" >> select "Use High-contrast colors" >> unselect "Only change the color of black text or line art." >> unselect "Change the color of line art as well as text." >> select "High-contrast color combination:" = "Black text on white". >> >> However, although it looks correct on the screen, when I print it it >> still comes out with the black background. >> >> I'm just using the free version of Adobe Reader.? Perhaps someone with >> a paid-up version can get it to print correctly (print to a printer or >> print to another PDF file). >> >> Alan N1AL >> >> >> >> >> On 8/5/2021 4:08 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: >>> Rev. C9 of the K4 operating manual can be found here: >>> >>> https://elecraft.com/pages/k4-high-performance-direct-sampling-sdr-manuals >>> >>> In addition to the .html version, we're now providing a .pdf, as >>> requested. >>> >>> NOTE:? The operating manual has a black background, consistent with >>> the color scheme used for all text boxes on the K4's LCD. Obviously, >>> printing a hard copy wouldn't be advised, as you would consume the >>> entire ink supply at your local Office Depot. It cannot be easily >>> converted to a white background given all of the text styles used, so >>> this isn't
Re: [Elecraft] Broke my K2 :(
Yes Jerry, isopropyl alcohol does this! I once cleaned a working print of a GPS receiver with isopropyl alcohol and it stopped working. Letting it be and trying it again next day turned out it worked perfectly again. From then on I leave a PCB to rest after cleaning to have the IPA dry out completely... 73, Peter - PA0PJE Op 14-07-2021 om 14:54 schreef jerry: Actually, I suspect that when I scrubbed it with isopropyl alcohol, it shorted out __ 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 USB connection fail
After a couple weeks of inactivity with antennas disconnected I put everything back together and turned on my K3s only to find that N1MM+ logger did not see it. I swapped out USB cables to no effect. I swapped out another Win 10 computer to no effect. On Win 10 I went into device manager and confirmed the FTDI serial emulator on COM4 was working properly. I went into the config tab on N1MM+ and confirmed the K3s was linked to COM4 and the proper settings were still in place, 38400, N, *, 1, no, no. I swapped USB sockets on the computer to no effect. I changed to COM9 on both computer and N1MM+ to no effect. I rebooted the computer and the radio after every change to no effect. The K3s does respond properly to the Winkeyer on COM5 and it transmits and receives using VOX normally. I don’t know where to go from here. Assistance greatly appreciated. Peter W2CDO Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10 __ 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] OT: Nano VNA
>>"limited to Windows" Not so: NanoVNA-saver is software written in Python and is platform independent. I use it on Linux Mint 20.1 https://github.com/NanoVNA-Saver/nanovna-saver 73, Peter - PA0PJE Op 25-06-2021 om 14:17 schreef w2xj: The problem with that is it requires a computer and is apparently limited to Windows software. Nano VNA is self contained. __ 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] Demure Request -- html test email
No it does not change HTML into plain text. The average mail client, like Thunderbird can be set to send both HTML and plain text. Some clients, more specifically those that use webmail CAN send in HTML only. 'Smart' phones and tablets have this deficiency too. That leaves a blank message on this reflector. Those people that use markup in their text hoping that bold and italic or colors get through, beware: It does NOT work here. Lest's keep it that way. I for one send plain text only, no HTML at all. 73 Peter - PA0PJE Op 13-05-2021 om 01:35 schreef Bill Lederer: Ok, my bad. On Wed, May 12, 2021 at 5:55 PM Edward H Russell wrote: Hi w8lvn, This is a legitimate test. We have determined that the server is not blanking html, but turning it into plain text. Thanks, Ed / w2rf __ 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] Repair service
My Panadapter has quit working. When I press the power switch I get a white screen briefly it says : P3 Boot Loader Checksum TEST Then screen blanks out. I have tried rebooting by holding power switch while I plug the power cord back in. No luck! Any suggestions ? I have filled out the request online to get a ticket to send it in for repair no reply. ? Who should I try and contact to see if I can get it working . 73 Peter VE7REZ Sent from my iPhone __ 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] Code to Command DVK
I'm looking for some code that I can write into an N1MM macro that will trigger playing one of the 4 memories in a K3S. I've looked in the programmer reference manual but I'm not finding any command to do that. Any suggestions? Pete Chamalian, W1RM w...@comcast.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] RTL SDR dongle
Eric, I have a NooElec R820T that does work from 25.85 MHz to 1766 MHz Anything lower that that needs an upconverter afaik. I can tell GQRX to go lower but it then detects nothing anymore... GQRX is a Linux SDR program where a funcion that says "No limits" allows to tune higher and lower than these two frequency limits. I suppose you more likely need an attenuator between the upmixer and the dongle. 73, Peter PA0PJE Op 08-02-2021 om 14:48 schreef Eric Lanzl: Regarding the RTL SDR dongle. I notice that it says that the dongle will go down to 500 khz with reduced sampling below 24 mhz. I wias wondering if one needs to get an up converter to get it to work? Or will the reduced functioning be ok for a basic pan adapter. Also, does it require a buffer amp or not for the K3? Thanks, Eric WB9JNZ __ 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 pa0...@xs4all.nl __ 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] KX3util error on Linux Mint 19.3 64 bit.
Dave, https://launchpad.net/gtkhtml But just versions for Trusty and Precise. No updates after 2013 I have the same error on the help but never needed it. Also in the GUI btw in KX3UtilityLINUX_1_19_9_6 which runs fine in 64bit Linux. I found several "libwebkits" in Synaptic Installed are Libwebkit2GTK 4.0-37 and Libwebkitgtk 3.0. I won't tell you to update to Mint 20... I use 19.3 MATE desktop and leave it that way. Tested 20 on an old laptop and VBox6.0. Stay safe 73, Peter PA0PJE Op 20-12-2020 om 19:22 schreef Dave B via Elecraft: Tried the Help button, nothing, except in the underlying Terminal session:- Could not load libWebKit Could not load libGtkHTML is shown. ( Hmmm... WebKit, isn't that some proprietary Apple thing? ) Anyway, the only button there that does anything is the "Cancel" button. So, where to next! I have presently mislaid the user manual by-the-way, and I had odd errors attempting to pull a version from Elecraft with FireFox. Any suggestions welcome. Oh, anyone who tells me to update to Mint 20, will be shot! That isn't going to happen yet a while. 73. Dave G8KBV. __ 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] Arecibo antenna collapses
Frank, I was the foundation project engineer for the Square Kilometre Array (which your URL refers to), as well as leading much of the effort to get the SKA pathfinders on the ground here in Western Australia. As you know, there's a complementary section of the Telescope in South Africa. Naturally we're all excited about the prospects of the SKA, with the pathfinders having already done much good work. However, despite many advances in signal processing over the years there is still a place for very large single aperture telescopes, such as the Chinese FAST instrument and (formerly) Arecibo. I might add that a good deal of the impetus for FAST came from the Chinese participation in the SKA consortium, a body in which the US originally participated but later withdrew from. While the millions of dollars do indeed mount up, the direct benefits and spin-offs from astronomy are substantial, even putting aside the basic science outcomes. I certainly hope the US is able to continue on its distinguished path in radio astronomy and, SKA and FAST aside, there are many other prospects - on and off-shore - for ensuring that happens. Like all science, though, it relies on the enlightened being able to spread the good word! 73, Peter (VK6HP). -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Frank Stein Sent: Thursday, 3 December 2020 10:20 AM To: Wes Cc: Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Arecibo antenna collapses There is also the Square kilometer array radio telescope: https://secure-web.cisco.com/12MAQQcd67xMePXjKd5h8T5I3McR14SDT4pj4Zx1A9cA08lv5nb8kOz0ZNAvZX7GbXyBQ-YSj_PmhDxNs3AlPdEx8-DL3FE-ZfPRtfBQwb6L5l06oidXgV_pudn0RjC4twig28CEn5qf9qqWWAey1azWK0TGwqHtIzASG3YBZhyJ-xrGUpz2x6sMGYKEWlg0qj-bHsWpA0lzPav6HAYtn9zFUmFBkDedjsZ5VSdPKmJeEKouXEzLAHbNJ_HnJ6LqHZQDTDJ7jLRyZutzV23lOI6A3jj4Mcbuab07BQrN0VV-6bCdnPvNpZNDWRFczzGu-F1fGlvlfXCGhCTigYwsyERaQLafgwrCJVuKdKww-6uFBy9lftPLhRazSzlCZX7--hRyXLmaD4auG6WsEz1YUxd9moALrCA-7mNSRynjOZrLRm0AKYjyi5G0v7yfYkN9D_D79Bn8paF0SbEa7S7Y3i8zAevBzseCNeDmzNNp7EaU/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skatelescope.org%2F It could be ready to operate before the decade is out and is even bigger. - frank W4TG On Wed, Dec 2, 2020 at 7:03 PM Wes wrote: > Did they show you the transmitter? > > Wes N7WS > > > On 12/2/2020 10:22 AM, Andrew Faber via Elecraft wrote: > > This is certainly getting way off topic on the Elecraft reflector, > > but I > can’t resist mentioning that I have visited the FAST telescope in > Guizhou Province. Here is a brief explanation from my trip notes (we > were guests because my wife is an astronomer with many Chinese > colleagues). It’s odd that they are creating a tourist destination, > since normally such telescopes are located to minimize RFI. > > > > “We were met by a driver from FAST in a Honda Odyssey for the > > two-hour > drive to Pingtang, China’s self-proclaimed “Astronomy City.” There is > a huge amount of new construction, as they try to take advantage of > the FAST to create a tourist destination. There are new shops and > hotels being built, and on the sides of the roads they even have > statues and bas reliefs of famous scientists and scientific > instruments. FAST stands for “Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical > radio Telescope,” and that’s just what it is – outdoing the 300-meter > radio telescope at Arecibo, Puerto Rico by far. It’s in a valley that > had a dozen or so homes before they houses were demolished. It’s 500 > meters across, and is partly steerable, since the panels can be > somewhat deformed by 4,000 actuators pulling on cables that tug on the > panels that comprise the reflective surface. The receiving “cabin” is > suspended on cables attached to six huge (maybe 350-400 feet > tall) towers. So by moving the cabin and pulling on cables, they can > apparently track through about 20 degrees, unlike Arecibo, which is > fixed in a spherical shape. The actuators that deform the mirror into > a parabola are hydraulic and need only pull about a foot and a half or > so on each cable. Although it was late, we drove down for a quick > look at the telescope, since it wasn’t raining. It’s an unbelievably > impressive mechanical construct. > > > > 73, andy ae6y > > > __ > 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 > fst...@ieee.org __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post
Re: [Elecraft] K4D vs K4HD
Great, thanks Wayne. It will be exciting to see these new rigs start to roll off the assembly line and into the hands of users. Pete, W1RM w...@comcast.net -Original Message- From: Wayne Burdick Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2020 1:10 PM To: Peter Chamalian Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K4D vs K4HD Peter, The K4HD has been delayed due to all the recent challenges (pandemic, lockdown, fires). The K4D has been tested in heavy contesting conditions with stations in line of sight each other, without any kind of overload issues reported. Like these operators, most will find they don't need the HDR module. For those who do, it'll be retrofittable at any point in time to convert a K4D into an HD. 73, Wayne N6KR > On Oct 8, 2020, at 9:43 AM, Peter Chamalian wrote: > > I've read the specs but I can't translate that into practical terms. > I suspect the K4HD is a better choice when you are in a multi > transmitter environment like FD or a multi-multi but are there other > situations where the HD is a better choice? I do have a few local > hams and I have encountered some problems when we are on 6 meters but > otherwise no real interference or rx blocking problems. I have K3S. > > > > Do any of the beta testers have a K4HD? > > > > > > Pete, W1RM > > w...@comcast.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 > n...@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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] K4D vs K4HD
I've read the specs but I can't translate that into practical terms. I suspect the K4HD is a better choice when you are in a multi transmitter environment like FD or a multi-multi but are there other situations where the HD is a better choice? I do have a few local hams and I have encountered some problems when we are on 6 meters but otherwise no real interference or rx blocking problems. I have K3S. Do any of the beta testers have a K4HD? Pete, W1RM w...@comcast.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] With the K4 coming, is it time to replace this email list with a forum?
privately asking people to stop a particular thread, no matter how long, off topic or repetitive it gets. Email me instead . I will step in when I feel it is necessary to end a thread. (eric(at)elecraft.com) 5a1. Please exercise restraint in posting when a thread is getting heavily covered. 30 posts on one topic in a day (like the recurring CW thread) is usually excessive. 5b. Please do not post any direct attacks or snide comments directed at a list member. Enthusiastic arguments are encouraged, but please keep everything cordial. Members who verbally attack another (either via the list or via direct email) will be removed from the list. As the 'official' list moderator, I'll jump in as necessary to keep everything orderly. I do this off line and occasionally to the list when it is appropriate. Our goal is to keep the Elecraft list a fun, informative central clearing house for Elecraft information and enthusiasm. 6. Please DO POST your technical questions and comments to the list. Elecraft owners are your best source for quick answers (and they NEVER sleep!) If you don't get the answers you need from the list please email us direct at support(at)elecraft.com , which is our customer service address. We do try to watch the list traffic, but we may not respond to everything immediately and may miss some postings sent to the list or our personal addresses. 7. Please post your experiences with your Elecraft kit, DX worked, crazy ideas, product ideas, complaints (yes - we do want to hear them). 7. Commercial postings are allowed if they relate to Elecraft products, QRP, QRO, home-brewing, building etc. and are of interest to this list's membership. Please keep them as short as possible and provide web links to more detailed information. I'll step in if we feel someone is posting too many messages of this type. 7a. Please limit commercial postings to one per month per offering or product area (i.e. Builder for Hire postings, ham radio related products etc.) 8. Personal attacks, flames, or strongly worded derogatory messages will not be tolerated. (Pausing overnight before pressing the send key really helps..) Please do not criticize postings by others. 9. Send parts requests direct to pa...@elecraft.com, not to the list. 10. If you don't get an answer to a question from the list, or by checking the list archives, don't forget to check the Builder's Resource Page at http://www.elecraft.com and our support email address: supp...@elecraft.com 11. And above all, HAVE FUN!. We hope that this list is both a good technical resource and serves as a Elecraft community gathering place. We enjoy reading it every day and it really helps us keep our energy level high so we can continue getting exciting new kit projects out the door to you! 73, Eric WA6HHQ Elecraft List Moderator So not new at all, I think. 73, Peter - PA0PJE __ 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] K4 info
I support having a separate K4 group. I don't. I filter each Elecraft gear item in separate subfolders under a main folder called Elecraft. The real problem with this is the shear lack of users of this list to mention the type of Elecraft gear they want to talk about. Many users of the K3 for example, probably the most used gear, think: "If I ask something about a setting of something everyone should know I'm talking about my K3", so they end up in the main folder and I have a hard time to get rid of these messages... Messages from users of the digest that do not change the subject line: Those messages are filtered straight to the trash... When I close Tunderbird the trash is emptied automaically. If only we could stick to the RULE that one starts an item with the type of gear I would be very happy because the filter can take good care of this. Please use the reflector and do not divert to yahoo/google/groups.io etc. Share information at one place, do not split it up. 73, Peter - PA0PJE Op 30-08-2020 om 14:53 schreef John Bohnovic: I can filter all of the Elecraft groups so that all of the messages from the different groups appear in one folder. I don't do that because I want them in separate folders. I support having a separate K4 group. 73..de John/K4WJ On 8/29/2020 11:57 AM, Tom Azlin W7SUA wrote: I like having all the Elecraft discussion on this reflector. I do not consider any of it as tying up this one. Tom w7sua ( group 2 order for a K4, have the K-Line) On 8/26/2020 7:34 PM, Nr4c wrote: More likely this information will come from us as we announce the various stages of the delivery progress to the group on one of the reflectors, probably the K4 group so as not to tie up this one with a lot of traffic not of interest to the mass membership. Sent from my iPhone ...nr4c. bill __ 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 k4wj.j...@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 pa0...@xs4all.nl __ 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] Symbol T in KX3 display
Joe, you can download owner's manual/errata/accessory/tips etc here: https://elecraft.com/pages/kx3-high-perofrmance-portable-transceiver-manuals Page 8 of the manual describes all the display items. 72/73, Peter On 2020-08-19 at 20:06 Wayne Burdick wrote: The 'T' indicates that text decode is turned on. Wayne N6KR On Aug 19, 2020, at 9:30 AM, Joseph Trombino, Jr wrote: Howdy Gang. Been a while since I had a KX3 and just recently bought another one…I guess I just like them (grin). In changing menu choices for my style of CW operating I noticed the letter T in the bottom right of the display next to the B VFO icon. Believe this has something to do with digital operating but can’t remember. Waiting for the manual to arrive (omitted in shipment) so could some kind Elecrafter out there clue me in? In normal CW mode I don’t believe the T should be in the display. Many thanks for jogging the memory of an old fool!! Stay healthy and take care. CU on the air, CW of course!! 73, Joe W2KJ I QRP, therefore I am __ 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 n...@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 Message delivered to pa0...@xs4all.nl __ 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 very strange problem
On a few occasions I have had reports of a broad signal generating key clicks. One report was backed up with a photo of a pan adapter screen shot. Subsequent checks with a local showed no such problem. The station who reported the problem told me he had received a similar report from a number of guys. I don't have anything unusual in my setup. I'm running a K3S at 32 watts driving a Expert 2K-FA. At the time of this report I was working a station is MS so my 20 meter beam was pointing just south of the house. I was concerned that somehow the amp keying was getting in the act but that would not account for a broad signal only clicks which the amp has circuitry to eliminate any hot switching. In conversations with W5UQ at Expert he suggested the possibility of RF so I ordered the Palomar Engineering filtering kits for both the amp and K3S. I'll put them on as soon as they arrive. Has anyone run into similar problems? If so can you reproduce them? Better have you found the source and fixed it? Pete, W1RM w...@comcast.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 transmit limitations
On 10-08-2020 at 22:35 jcj...@lagoon.nc wrote: and they have a right to be strict. Sorry Pierre, "they" don't... Not for radio amateurs. Professional use like land, sea and air maybe yes. CB certainly. Amateurs have a license to live up to. Government may restrict commercial amateur gear to be restricted when it leaves the factory but if a licensed amateur hampers this for the sake of having special functions they should be able to do so without rendering the radio illegal. A K2 is not leaving the factory as a complete unit but as a bunch of parts that can be put together by qualified users. Spain as a country should in that case be to blame, not Elecraft be forced to make adaptions to the kit. As should of course Nouvelle Caledonie. 73, Peter - PA0PJE __ 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] KPA1500 PSU fan speed mod a success
Hi all, Just wanted to reach out and say a great big THANK YOU to my good friend and fellow NJDXA and FRC member Dave, WO2X for taking point and finding a fix for my perpetually noisy KPA-1500 power supply fan. It had always been annoying, but after the Covid lockdown and my wife had to work from home, she was in the office/hamshack here 10+ hours a day, and leaving the KPA powered up in standby was just too loud for her to concentrate. It cost about $64 shipped to get the replacement front panel LED board, which includes a higher-value 3W resistor that reduces the idling fan noise to almost nothing now. It's a very simple mod that in retrospect I could have done myself, but for me with my shaky hands and not-great eyesight it's a big plus to have a friend like Dave who knows his stuff. If you have an older KPA1500 and the PSU fans (not the RF deck fans) were driving you nuts, this mod works great, and eliminates a big source of frustration. - 73 and Good DX Peter, W2IRT President, North Jersey DX Association DXCC Card Checker Letter O Manager, ARRL Incoming 2nd District QSL bureau __ 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] CW Mush
Thanks Bob. I set my AGC SLP to 5 and thr to 14 and it helps. I’ll have to play with your values and see if it’s better. My RF gain is at 3 o’clock. Pete, W1RM w...@comcast.net From: Bob Wilson, N6TV Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2020 8:34 PM To: Peter Chamalian Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CW Mush See also http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Receiver-mush-td7627277.html#a7627323 73, Bob, N6TV On Thu, Jul 2, 2020, 2:34 PM Peter Chamalian mailto:w...@comcast.net> > wrote: My K3S is turning CW into mush. Huge pile ups as K2D are really hard to deal with. Any suggestions other than get a K4 which I have on order? Pete, W1RM w...@comcast.net <mailto:w...@comcast.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 <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 n...@arrl.net <mailto:n...@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] CW Mush
My K3S is turning CW into mush. Huge pile ups as K2D are really hard to deal with. Any suggestions other than get a K4 which I have on order? Pete, W1RM w...@comcast.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] K3S and Micro Keyer II issue
I'm running the K3S and Micro Keyer II. When I go on digital there are times when the K3S appears to be putting out RF but there is none. When I switch to CW all's well. If I turn the K3S, Microkeyer II off and shut down the device router software then turn it all back on, I get RF out on digital. Any ideas as to what's going on and what to do about it? Pete, W1RM w...@comcast.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] URL???
The thing is that what you sent was not a URL. One should not omit the protocol... I copied the URL from my browser and pasted it here. It adds "https://; https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/ionospheric-digital-database is the true URL including the protocol and should be shown as such in any decent mail client and be clickable to launch your browser. 73, Peter Op 27-06-2020 om 06:17 schreef ab2tc: Hi Kevin, I am not sure what the problem is, but the link to "catalog.data.gov/dataset/ionospheric-digital-database" in your original post works fine here. Interesting information as always from NOAA. I don't think there is any problem sending URLs (links) to the reflector. I can't comment on how the reflector responds (or not) to E-mail sent to it as I always use other means to communicate with it. I apologize if Nabble has added ads to this response. If it has, I will abandon Nabble and find other means to respond to reflector messages. AB2TC - Knut David Herring wrote I can be corrected if I’m wrong, but my understanding (and personal experience) is that the reflector does not send a copy of an email back to the sender. At least it’s never done it for me. I usually see my messages when someone responds to it and its included in their response. As far as the link you sent, it came through 5-9. I checked it out earlier. ;-) 73, David - N5DCH On Jun 26, 2020, at 7:23 PM, kevinr kevinr@ wrote: Is is illegal to send a URL to the Elecraft Reflector? I have tried three times thus far to send one but the email never appears. catalog dot data dot gov slant dataset slant ionospheric-digital-database Replace each space dot space with a single . Replace each space slant space with a single / Hopefully this encrypted form of URL will pass the censor. Kevin. KD5ONS __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: Elecraft@.qth This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to david.n5dch@ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: Elecraft@.qth This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to lists+1215531472858-365791@.nabble -- Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.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 pa0...@xs4all.nl __ 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] K4 on FD -- who?
Please tell us which stations will be using K4's on FD? I want to pay close attention to them. Thanks Pete, W1RM w...@comcast.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] New CW audio recording: K3 vs. K4D
I would like to hear this same A/B comparison but in a pile-up with 4 or
more stations calling. I must confess the hard edge on the K4 "feels" more
like a click to me but that's just my initial reaction. I have pre-ordered
a K4HD.
Pete, W1RM
w...@comcast.net
-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On
Behalf Of Bob Wilson, N6TV
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2020 10:24 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] New CW audio recording: K3 vs. K4D
This afternoon I made a 3-1/2 minute audio recording of two stations in QSO
with each other on 40 CW, using both a K3 and K4D, and switching back and
forth. Download here (2.3 MB):
https://www.kkn.net/~n6tv/K3_vs_K4D_CW_Audio_by_N6TV_20200625.mp3
Recorded off rear headphone jack using an MK2R+ USB Sound Card.
In sum, I think the K4D audio sounds quite a bit better, but the "500 Hz"
passband of the K4 seems wider than the K3 (wider skirts?). The AGC attack
time seems slower in the K4 (similar to Icom IC-7851 fast AGC, IMHO). So
the "leading edge" of each dot or dash is louder, which may improve copy a
bit.
The loud station (about 599 + 10 dB) is AC2K in AZ, and the weaker one
(about S-6 to S-7) is NZ0T in MO.
Timestamp What you're hearing
---
00:00 - 00:16 K3
00:19 - 01:00 K4
01:01 - 01:21 K4 with NR engaged and adjusted for best copy ("Level 3")
(Tuned range 0 to 10, the complete range)
01:22 - 01:25 K3
01:26 - 01:58 K3 with NR F1-2 (didn't adjust)
02:00 - 02:35 K4 NR off I think
02:37 - 03:10 K3 NR off
03:13 - 03:20 K4
K3 is S/N 1495 with KSYN3A upgrade but original DSP board and Inrad 500 Hz
8-pole CW crystal filter, with W9AC Audio Mod
.
(capacitors changed in headphone circuit to increase low end audio response)
K4D Field Test Unit S/N 0008
K3 and K4 were set with identical parameters where possible:
AGC-F, ATT OFF, PRE OFF
RF Gain about 3 O'Clock on K3.
RF Gain 0 (max) on K4
CW mode, 500 Hz bandwidth
Pitch 480 Hz / center of passband IF shift AGC Attack: 210 (K4 only) AGC
DCY Soft (K3 only) AGC HLD 0.05 (K3 only) AGC PLS NOR/ON AGC SLP 008 (K3)
AGC Slope 15 (K4 -- units are different) AGC THR 010 (K3) AGC Threshold 4
(K4 -- units are different) AGC-F / AGC Decay, Fast:120 AGC-S / AGC Decay,
Slow: 20
73,
Bob, N6TV
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Re: [Elecraft] [K3] RTTY Setup
Hi John, experienced this once or twice myself. There is a setting in N1MM+ to check. From the N1MM+ log entry window, select Config, Mode Control and in the combo box against "Mode RTTY" select "AFSK" for the appropriate Radio/VFO. That may also resolve your hung PTT; VOX should then work. Good luck Peter M0RYB I've recently changed from FSK to AFSK, and having issues. FWIW, I am using N1MM with 2Tone as my RTTY interface, with the K3 internal sound card. First, When I go to DATA MD, it is always set to FSK D. I reset it to AFSK A and it works; however, if I change bands, it resets itself to FSK D. The AFSK A setting does not "stick" - is there a way to make the K3 remember this setting? Second, the K3 is staying in Transmit after the RTTY message is finished. I usually have to press the XMIT button to return to receive. I do not have anything setup in the 2Tone PTT box, which I suspect is the problem. I tried to use the serial DTR, but 2Tone was unable to use the serial port that N1MM was using. I also tried VOX, but did not see a difference. Any suggestions for setting up AFSK PTT? Thanks, - 73, John, N0TA -- Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Best Audio Interfaces 2020?
If you have a K3s with the built in codecs that's not the case at all. It's its own independent audio device. For original K3 radios and other earlier rigs without built-in USB audio, I recommend the Microham Microkeyer-II. It ran my Yaesu Mark V based shack for about 10 years, and I got the cables to let it handle my K3s for a while, but eventually I just simplified everything and I took the MK-II out of line and resorted to USB connectivity. Not a single problem since then. PC sounds, video, music, etc, go to the motherboard sound interface, and the rig sounds (digimodes in/out and DVK from the PC to the radio) via the separate USB interface built into the K3s. If you have a radio without the USB interface ping me off-list and maybe we can make a deal on my no-longer-needed MicroKeyer-II? - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of W6IPA Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 5:47 PM To: Wes Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Best Audio Interfaces 2020? The matter is that you will send all the OS sounds to that interface (because you have only one)- and at this point you need to chase all the notifications what will be sending sound, and you cannot watch youtube anymore :-) JC/W6IPA. > On Jun 15, 2020, at 2:31 PM, Wes wrote: > > What's the matter with the internal soundcard in your computer? > > Wes N7WS > > On 6/15/2020 9:30 AM, Eric KG6MZS wrote: >> Hello All, >> >> I just scanned the archives for recommendations on a good external USB audio interface for sound card digital. In 2017 Jim (K9YC) recommended two (ASUS and Newmark) that are no longer available. >> >> What are the current favs that are out there now? >> >> TIA, >> Eric >> KG6MZS > > __ > 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 > w6...@poxika.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 li...@w2irt.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Data protection and recovery techniques
I have a paid Dropbox account, supplemented by Microsoft OneDrive, folders for which reside on my D: drive. All my data (including pictures, videos, music, documents, and work projects) go in there AND get backed up to a local NAS for redundancy. The OS partition (C : drive) including all software, settings, download, temporary and archive folders are backed up using a differential scheme to a NAS device daily, and a full backup to a Passport drive weekly. I use Acronis True Image Home for backup/restore software. All my logs are backed up multiple places for safety, however due to the structure of both my DX logger and N1MM+ Contest Logger, they have to be run from a non-cloud folder, so extra care is taken in both cases. I'm less worried about the OS and software; those can be reinstalled easily enough over the course of a few days (albeit with lots of swearing involved), but the data, all of it irreplaceable, has to be stored in Dropbox (meaning a copy exists not just in the cloud but on the hard drive of every computer I own that's connected to the account). - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of W2xj Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2020 6:28 AM To: Bill Frantz Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Data protection and recovery techniques I backup into the cloud. When I get a new Mac, it restores automatically. Sent from my iPad > On Jun 13, 2020, at 10:46 PM, Bill Frantz wrote: > > Being a Mac guy, I use "Time Machine". I do test it every once in a > while when I recover a file, but having been in the computer industry > for my career, I am generally careful enough that I don't have to > recover files. (Knock on wood.) > > I have the largest disk I could find at Costco as a backup disk sitting on my > desk. > > The real test comes when I buy an new computer and restore the entire backup > to the new machine. That has worked through several new computers. The one > time it didn't work, the old backup was so many no-longer-supported levels > back, that the new machine didn't recognize it. However, with Time Machine, > if you open the backup folder on the backup disk, you can dig down to a > complete file system image that can just be copied. I like backup systems > that are simple and don't try to do irreversible magic. > > The other dimension of backup is several offsite disks. One is at a house > nearby, and another is on the other coast. Whenever I travel to those > locations, I make a backup. If everthing here goes up in smoke, I do have > some recourse. > > 73 Bill AE6JV > > --- > Bill Frantz| Can't fix stupid, but | Periwinkle > (408)348-7900 | duct tape can muffle the| 150 Rivermead Road #235 > www.pwpconsult.com | sound... - Bill Liebman | Peterborough, NY 03458 > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email > list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to > w...@w2xj.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 li...@w2irt.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] A couple of KPA1500 remote operating questions
The concern is 100% noise. Heat I don’t mind, and it helps in the winter. I’ll see about a HEPA room filter. The area is a concrete crawl space below my shack, about 3 feet high and 25 feet long, with a sheltered window at one end and access to the main part of the basement at the other. I would plan to put the amp about 8 feet in from the basement entrance, and against an exterior wall. I don’t know what material is dropping over everything, but it’s noticeable. Maybe concrete dust? Something from the insulation in the ceiling?? I figured if I went down every week or two with a compressor and just blasted air into the back to blow anything out that would help. I see you point about air filters. I have a Cat-6 line in there now to an old PC, the drop to my station, and another one to my weather station’s RPI. With good shielded coax running in the direction opposite direction to the Cat-6 and a few ferrites I think I’ll be OK in that area. It’s just the dust contamination I’m concerned about. - pjd From: Bob Wilson, N6TV Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 9:10 PM To: Peter Dougherty ; Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] A couple of KPA1500 remote operating questions On Wed, Jun 10, 2020 at 4:33 PM Peter Dougherty mailto:li...@w2irt.net> > wrote: 1. The area it will be going into is dusty. Dust is not good for amplifiers. They must move lots of air through the amplifier. Do you really have to put it there? Is it because you can't stand the fan noise? Or the heat? I suspect it's particulate dropping down from the insulation in the ceiling. Any way to fix that? Maybe a HEPA room filter? I plan to put a shelf about 10 inches over top of the amp but I'm wondering if this might be a problem. Well, it won't keep the dust out. Cool air is blown into the amplifier from the rear fans, and out the top (and also through gaps in the front panel if the fan speed gets high enough). A shelf over the amp. could force the hot exhaust air to circulate back down close to the intake. Not good. If so, how often should I get down there with a compressor to blow the crud out of everything? Or maybe put a piece of fine air filter material over the fan inlet? A filter will probably reduce air flow, and put more stress on the fans. Not good. 2. The crawlspace is not heated and probably gets into the 40s or even 30s during the winter. Would this be a risk? Cold is good. Amps like to be cold (KPA1500 has more gain when cold than when not). But if moisture or condensation is a problem down there, not good. 3. I'm using the amp with a K3s. At the moment I have a Y-box from the accessory port, and a cable from the Y-box to the amp. Since this won't be on the same floor as the radio, how can I get this working with the radio? A long M/F DE-15 cable should work. I don't know what the length limit is. 10 to 15 feet should be OK if you have 2.5' from the K3 ACC to the Y-BOX. But use a well shielded cable. I recommend this one for extra long runs: https://www.cablesondemand.com/category/HD15/product/CS-DSPMHD15MF/URvars/Items/Library/InfoManage/CS-DSPMHD15MF.htm If I site the amp immediately below where it is now I could probably run a 10' DB15 extension cable down from the Y-box to the amp, but I'm pretty sure that will violate all kinds of fire regs. Not sure how I can do this. Fire regs? Can't comment on that, but there is no more than 13V on any pin, and very little current, so it's hard to imagine how that cable could cause a fire. But once the amp. is down there, how will you monitor it? Are you planning to run a long USB or Ethernet cable down there as well? A long USB cable will probably need ferrites. A long Ethernet cable should generate RFI if you use the unshielded type. Or are you going to keep a PC in the crawlspace, connected by WiFi, and use KPA1500 Remote software? 73, Bob, N6TV __ 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 couple of KPA1500 remote operating questions
Hi all, Within the next week or two I am hoping to relocate my KPA-1500 to a basement crawlspace, but before calling in the electrician and getting ready to move it, I have a couple of questions. 1. The area it will be going into is dusty. To the point that when I'm in there to check on my cables or retrieve an equipment box that's stored down there I have to wear a face mask or I'll be coughing for hours . I suspect it's particulate dropping down from the insulation in the ceiling. I plan to put a shelf about 10 inches over top of the amp but I'm wondering if this might be a problem. If so, how often should I get down there with a compressor to blow the crud out of everything? Or maybe put a piece of fine air filter material over the fan inlet? 2. The crawlspace is not heated and probably gets into the 40s or even 30s during the winter. Would this be a risk? 3. I'm using the amp with a K3s. At the moment I have a Y-box from the accessory port, and a cable from the Y-box to the amp. Since this won't be on the same floor as the radio, how can I get this working with the radio? If I site the amp immediately below where it is now I could probably run a 10' DB15 extension cable down from the Y-box to the amp, but I'm pretty sure that will violate all kinds of fire regs. Not sure how I can do this. - 73 and Good DX Peter, W2IRT President, North Jersey DX Association DXCC Card Checker Letter O Manager, ARRL Incoming 2nd District QSL bureau __ 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] KPA1500 Wake On Lan not working
Wake On LAN is not functioning on my KPA-1500 using the remote software. I have the Wake On Lan and DHCP boxes checked in the Network tab in the configuration settings within the KPA1500 Utility program, and the LAN settings (including the IP address) are correct. The only condition in which the remote software (v1.27) can find the KPA1500 is when the amp is manually powered on, after which it operates fine. Once I power down the amp there is no condition in which I can reattach the software remotely-I must power the amp on from the front panel button. In addition to this, just pressing the "connect" button won't do it either. I have to press the TEST button, wait until it finds the amp, then press CONNECT and it connects normally. At the moment this isn't a deal breaker, but I intend to remote the amp next week to a relatively inaccessible space in the basement so I'd like to get this solved as soon as possible. As a side issue, the DHCP IP address had changed at some point, and the remote software did NOT pick up the change. I had to hunt in my router for the MAC address and enter the new IPV4 address manually into the remote software. - Please and thanks. Peter, W2IRT __ 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 working on motorboats - possible
Hi Gernot! You pointed the problem out! I have done really a lot of QRP work (DXCC, all continents) landside and of course I will start with low power on board. Many thanks for your advice to the "Rothhammel". I did not know, that marine antennas are a theme there, but I will have a look into for sure! Best regards Peter -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- Von: g...@gmx.net [mailto:g...@gmx.net] Gesendet: Dienstag, 9. Juni 2020 22:21 An: Peter Kaletsch ; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Betreff: Re: [Elecraft] K3 working on motorboats - possible Hello Peter, I think it depends on your willingnes to sacrify the shape of your boat. If you want to get heard anywhere then you either need a long vertical plus good ground as mentioned already, or a dipole as high above sea level as possible. The dipole may be sloped but either the feedpoint needs to be elevated or the ends of the wire. I have operated both configurations near fresh water with kind of satisfaction (~500km on 7/14 MHz are possible on 10Watts) , but not yet on a boat. The Rothammel also mentions "Marineantennen" and discusses the grounding and antenna suggestions. Seems like an interesting experiment, hope you get on the air soon! 73 Gernot DF5RF BTW, you can use www.deepl.com for a quick translation to German: "Ich denke, es hängt von Ihrer Bereitschaft ab, die Form Ihres Bootes zu opfern. Wenn Sie irgendwo gehört werden wollen, dann brauchen Sie entweder eine lange Vertikale plus guten Boden, wie bereits erwähnt, oder einen Dipol so hoch über dem Meeresspiegel wie möglich. Der Dipol kann geneigt sein, aber entweder der Speisepunkt oder die Drahtenden müssen erhöht sein. Ich habe beide Konfigurationen in der Nähe von Süßwasser mit einer gewissen Befriedigung betrieben (~500km auf 7/14 MHz sind bei 10Watt möglich), aber noch nicht auf einem Boot. Der Rothammel erwähnt auch "Marineantennen" und bespricht die Erdung und Antennenvorschläge. Scheint ein interessantes Experiment zu sein, Ich hoffe, Sie gehen bald auf Sendung! Übersetzt mit www.DeepL.com/Translator (kostenlose Version)" Am 08.06.2020 um 22:47 schrieb Peter Kaletsch: > Hello fellows; > > You are my last hope as I cannot imagine that I am the only one in the world > who wants to try that. > > For many months I have been trying in vain to get tips on how to operate a K3 > well on a small 13 meter motor yacht. I am talking about fresh water usage > (Lake Garda in Italy), not salt water, and of a GFK built boat. > > A dipole is eliminated, it is not a sailing boat. I thought of using a > Tarheel Antenna, but the manufacturer advised me against it. > > So normal, shortened mobile antennas, mounted on the device carrier, where > also the antenna for marine radio is located, should point the way ...? > > But how do I get a reasonably effective earth? I read a lot of negative > things about ground plates - fast growth, the hull has to be pierced. > > I have already considered laying radials from the antenna base below deck in > the invisible area, but will this work...? > > I am very grateful for every tip and every help - also to > pkalet...@kaletsch-gmbh.de > > Thanks in advance > > Peter - DL1MDZ > > > > Peter Kaletsch GmbH | Fürstenrieder Straße 275 | 81377 München | Tel: > +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 0 | Fax: +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 99 | > i...@kaletsch-gmbh.de | Handelsregisternummer HRB 108093 | Amtsgericht > Muenchen | Steuer-Nr: 143/170/40017 | Geschäftsführer: Peter Kaletsch | Sitz > der Gesellschaft: München | Hinweis / reference: > Die Inhalte dieser Nachricht dürfen nur für die beabsichtigten Zwecke > verwendet werden. The content of this Message may only be used for the > intended purposes. > __ > 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 g...@gmx.net Peter Kaletsch GmbH | Fürstenrieder Straße 275 | 81377 München | Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 0 | Fax: +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 99 | i...@kaletsch-gmbh.de | Handelsregisternummer HRB 108093 | Amtsgericht Muenchen | Steuer-Nr: 143/170/40017 | Geschäftsführer: Peter Kaletsch | Sitz der Gesellschaft: München | Hinweis / reference: Die Inhalte dieser Nachricht dürfen nur für die beabsichtigten Zwecke verwendet werden. The content of this Message may only be used for the intended purposes. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfa
Re: [Elecraft] K3 working on motorboats - possible
No chance hihihihihi :-) -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- Von: W2xj [mailto:w...@w2xj.net] Gesendet: Dienstag, 9. Juni 2020 22:18 An: Peter Kaletsch Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Betreff: Re: [Elecraft] K3 working on motorboats - possible marry a ham! :-) Sent from my iPad > On Jun 9, 2020, at 3:54 PM, Peter Kaletsch wrote: > > I agree, but I think that's a common issue for married hams! Happy > wife, happy live :-) > > 73, Peter > > -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- > Von: W2xj [mailto:w...@w2xj.net] > Gesendet: Dienstag, 9. Juni 2020 18:34 > An: Peter Kaletsch > Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Betreff: Re: [Elecraft] K3 working on motorboats - possible > > i think your engineering challenge is primarily balancing esthetics against > performance. > > Sent from my iPad > >> On Jun 9, 2020, at 6:52 AM, Peter Kaletsch >> wrote: >> >> Hi folks, >> >> Thanks a lot for all answers and information! Some I still have to read more >> accurate ana translate some special parts, because, as you can obviously >> read from my post, my English is horrible. >> >> I tend - and of course my wife does - to have a fixed installation. So >> extendable fiberglass masts or something like this is not the solution we >> are searching for. >> >> I will think about all suggestions, try some of them and report later this >> year, if there are any reporting worth solutions. We take over the boat >> during the next 2 weeks and after that, there is a lot of other marine stuff >> to do, before focusing on ham radio on board). >> >> Further answer are highly welcomed >> >> >> 73, Peter >> >> -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- >> Von: Kurt Pawlikowski [mailto:ku...@pinrod.com] >> Gesendet: Dienstag, 9. Juni 2020 03:16 >> An: Peter Kaletsch ; >> elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> Betreff: Re: [Elecraft] K3 working on motorboats - possible >> >> Peter, >> >>In general, any vertical works lots better with more radials. As fresh >> water is a fairly poor conductor, the more the merrier! >> Unfortunately, because most boats are wooden/fiberglass, what you can >> add helps. I don't know if they have to be 1/4 wavelength (I've read >> yes and some say at least 0.20 wavelength). For HF, this would be >> some serious lengths for most boats! I expect you'd have to load them >> similar to the vertical element, but I haven't read anything >> regarding loading >> radials: It's just a guess. I suppose one could attempt to replicate, to >> some extent, a solid ground plane with foil or some other conductor (maybe >> chicken wire?). It would seem a lot of work (and probably is!). >> If you're insistent on a vertical, it's a narrow field of variability. >> Some of the portable antenna's can make loaded dipoles or verticals, which >> would operate fairly well without a ground plane. Another option might be a >> magnetic loop (which doesn't care much about "ground" per se. >> It is affected by near-by conductors, tunes very narrowly, and is big >> (compared to a mobile vertical). So, whatever you choose, it's all some sort >> of compromise. >> >>kurtt WB9FMC >> >>>> On 6/8/2020 3:47 PM, Peter Kaletsch wrote: >>> Hello fellows; >>> >>> You are my last hope as I cannot imagine that I am the only one in the >>> world who wants to try that. >>> >>> For many months I have been trying in vain to get tips on how to operate a >>> K3 well on a small 13 meter motor yacht. I am talking about fresh water >>> usage (Lake Garda in Italy), not salt water, and of a GFK built boat. >>> >>> A dipole is eliminated, it is not a sailing boat. I thought of using a >>> Tarheel Antenna, but the manufacturer advised me against it. >>> >>> So normal, shortened mobile antennas, mounted on the device carrier, where >>> also the antenna for marine radio is located, should point the way ...? >>> >>> But how do I get a reasonably effective earth? I read a lot of negative >>> things about ground plates - fast growth, the hull has to be pierced. >>> >>> I have already considered laying radials from the antenna base below deck >>> in the invisible area, but will this work...? >>> >>> I am very grateful for every tip and every help - also to >>> pkalet...@kaletsch-gmbh.de >>> >>> Thanks in advance >>> >>> Peter - DL1MDZ >>> >>> >>> >>> Peter Kalets
Re: [Elecraft] K3 working on motorboats - possible
I agree, but I think that's a common issue for married hams! Happy wife, happy live :-) 73, Peter -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- Von: W2xj [mailto:w...@w2xj.net] Gesendet: Dienstag, 9. Juni 2020 18:34 An: Peter Kaletsch Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Betreff: Re: [Elecraft] K3 working on motorboats - possible i think your engineering challenge is primarily balancing esthetics against performance. Sent from my iPad > On Jun 9, 2020, at 6:52 AM, Peter Kaletsch wrote: > > Hi folks, > > Thanks a lot for all answers and information! Some I still have to read more > accurate ana translate some special parts, because, as you can obviously read > from my post, my English is horrible. > > I tend - and of course my wife does - to have a fixed installation. So > extendable fiberglass masts or something like this is not the solution we are > searching for. > > I will think about all suggestions, try some of them and report later this > year, if there are any reporting worth solutions. We take over the boat > during the next 2 weeks and after that, there is a lot of other marine stuff > to do, before focusing on ham radio on board). > > Further answer are highly welcomed > > > 73, Peter > > -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- > Von: Kurt Pawlikowski [mailto:ku...@pinrod.com] > Gesendet: Dienstag, 9. Juni 2020 03:16 > An: Peter Kaletsch ; > elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Betreff: Re: [Elecraft] K3 working on motorboats - possible > > Peter, > > In general, any vertical works lots better with more radials. As fresh > water is a fairly poor conductor, the more the merrier! > Unfortunately, because most boats are wooden/fiberglass, what you can > add helps. I don't know if they have to be 1/4 wavelength (I've read > yes and some say at least 0.20 wavelength). For HF, this would be some > serious lengths for most boats! I expect you'd have to load them > similar to the vertical element, but I haven't read anything regarding > loading > radials: It's just a guess. I suppose one could attempt to replicate, to some > extent, a solid ground plane with foil or some other conductor (maybe chicken > wire?). It would seem a lot of work (and probably is!). > If you're insistent on a vertical, it's a narrow field of variability. > Some of the portable antenna's can make loaded dipoles or verticals, which > would operate fairly well without a ground plane. Another option might be a > magnetic loop (which doesn't care much about "ground" per se. > It is affected by near-by conductors, tunes very narrowly, and is big > (compared to a mobile vertical). So, whatever you choose, it's all some sort > of compromise. > > kurtt WB9FMC > >> On 6/8/2020 3:47 PM, Peter Kaletsch wrote: >> Hello fellows; >> >> You are my last hope as I cannot imagine that I am the only one in the world >> who wants to try that. >> >> For many months I have been trying in vain to get tips on how to operate a >> K3 well on a small 13 meter motor yacht. I am talking about fresh water >> usage (Lake Garda in Italy), not salt water, and of a GFK built boat. >> >> A dipole is eliminated, it is not a sailing boat. I thought of using a >> Tarheel Antenna, but the manufacturer advised me against it. >> >> So normal, shortened mobile antennas, mounted on the device carrier, where >> also the antenna for marine radio is located, should point the way ...? >> >> But how do I get a reasonably effective earth? I read a lot of negative >> things about ground plates - fast growth, the hull has to be pierced. >> >> I have already considered laying radials from the antenna base below deck in >> the invisible area, but will this work...? >> >> I am very grateful for every tip and every help - also to >> pkalet...@kaletsch-gmbh.de >> >> Thanks in advance >> >> Peter - DL1MDZ >> >> >> >> Peter Kaletsch GmbH | Fürstenrieder Straße 275 | 81377 München | Tel: >> +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 0 | Fax: +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 99 | >> i...@kaletsch-gmbh.de | Handelsregisternummer HRB 108093 | Amtsgericht >> Muenchen | Steuer-Nr: 143/170/40017 | Geschäftsführer: Peter Kaletsch | Sitz >> der Gesellschaft: München | Hinweis / reference: >> Die Inhalte dieser Nachricht dürfen nur für die beabsichtigten Zwecke >> verwendet werden. The content of this Message may only be used for the >> intended purposes. >> __ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:
Re: [Elecraft] K3 working on motorboats - possible
Hi folks, Thanks a lot for all answers and information! Some I still have to read more accurate ana translate some special parts, because, as you can obviously read from my post, my English is horrible. I tend - and of course my wife does - to have a fixed installation. So extendable fiberglass masts or something like this is not the solution we are searching for. I will think about all suggestions, try some of them and report later this year, if there are any reporting worth solutions. We take over the boat during the next 2 weeks and after that, there is a lot of other marine stuff to do, before focusing on ham radio on board). Further answer are highly welcomed 73, Peter -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- Von: Kurt Pawlikowski [mailto:ku...@pinrod.com] Gesendet: Dienstag, 9. Juni 2020 03:16 An: Peter Kaletsch ; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Betreff: Re: [Elecraft] K3 working on motorboats - possible Peter, In general, any vertical works lots better with more radials. As fresh water is a fairly poor conductor, the more the merrier! Unfortunately, because most boats are wooden/fiberglass, what you can add helps. I don't know if they have to be 1/4 wavelength (I've read yes and some say at least 0.20 wavelength). For HF, this would be some serious lengths for most boats! I expect you'd have to load them similar to the vertical element, but I haven't read anything regarding loading radials: It's just a guess. I suppose one could attempt to replicate, to some extent, a solid ground plane with foil or some other conductor (maybe chicken wire?). It would seem a lot of work (and probably is!). If you're insistent on a vertical, it's a narrow field of variability. Some of the portable antenna's can make loaded dipoles or verticals, which would operate fairly well without a ground plane. Another option might be a magnetic loop (which doesn't care much about "ground" per se. It is affected by near-by conductors, tunes very narrowly, and is big (compared to a mobile vertical). So, whatever you choose, it's all some sort of compromise. kurtt WB9FMC On 6/8/2020 3:47 PM, Peter Kaletsch wrote: > Hello fellows; > > You are my last hope as I cannot imagine that I am the only one in the world > who wants to try that. > > For many months I have been trying in vain to get tips on how to operate a K3 > well on a small 13 meter motor yacht. I am talking about fresh water usage > (Lake Garda in Italy), not salt water, and of a GFK built boat. > > A dipole is eliminated, it is not a sailing boat. I thought of using a > Tarheel Antenna, but the manufacturer advised me against it. > > So normal, shortened mobile antennas, mounted on the device carrier, where > also the antenna for marine radio is located, should point the way ...? > > But how do I get a reasonably effective earth? I read a lot of negative > things about ground plates - fast growth, the hull has to be pierced. > > I have already considered laying radials from the antenna base below deck in > the invisible area, but will this work...? > > I am very grateful for every tip and every help - also to > pkalet...@kaletsch-gmbh.de > > Thanks in advance > > Peter - DL1MDZ > > > > Peter Kaletsch GmbH | Fürstenrieder Straße 275 | 81377 München | Tel: > +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 0 | Fax: +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 99 | > i...@kaletsch-gmbh.de | Handelsregisternummer HRB 108093 | Amtsgericht > Muenchen | Steuer-Nr: 143/170/40017 | Geschäftsführer: Peter Kaletsch | Sitz > der Gesellschaft: München | Hinweis / reference: > Die Inhalte dieser Nachricht dürfen nur für die beabsichtigten Zwecke > verwendet werden. The content of this Message may only be used for the > intended purposes. > __ > 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 > ku...@pinrod.com Peter Kaletsch GmbH | Fürstenrieder Straße 275 | 81377 München | Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 0 | Fax: +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 99 | i...@kaletsch-gmbh.de | Handelsregisternummer HRB 108093 | Amtsgericht Muenchen | Steuer-Nr: 143/170/40017 | Geschäftsführer: Peter Kaletsch | Sitz der Gesellschaft: München | Hinweis / reference: Die Inhalte dieser Nachricht dürfen nur für die beabsichtigten Zwecke verwendet werden. The content of this Message may only be used for the intended purposes. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Pos
Re: [Elecraft] tuner
Hi Bob; Thanks a lot! An automatic tuner also was my first idea and I hope, I'll catch up here still some motorboat experience form usage of external tuners for this purpose. 73, Peter -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- Von: ROBT E WOODWARD JR [mailto:bobwoodw...@mac.com] Gesendet: Dienstag, 9. Juni 2020 01:04 An: Peter Kaletsch Betreff: tuner Hi Peter Look into a SGC SG 237 tuner. The AX1 will not handle the power from the K3. I have used the tuner on land with random length wires for driven and ground. Good Luck 73 Bob, N6PGQ Peter Kaletsch GmbH | Fürstenrieder Straße 275 | 81377 München | Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 0 | Fax: +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 99 | i...@kaletsch-gmbh.de | Handelsregisternummer HRB 108093 | Amtsgericht Muenchen | Steuer-Nr: 143/170/40017 | Geschäftsführer: Peter Kaletsch | Sitz der Gesellschaft: München | Hinweis / reference: Die Inhalte dieser Nachricht dürfen nur für die beabsichtigten Zwecke verwendet werden. The content of this Message may only be used for the intended purposes. __ 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] WG: K3 working on motorboats - possible
Hi; Thank you very much for the feedback and suggestions. The suggested setup is surly good for testing, but I would prefer a permanent installation more and I am very sure, my wife also does Or should I say, I am sure, it's a must for here :-). And also the AX-1 limits the output to 25 watts... Best regards 73, Peter -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- Von: W2xj [mailto:w...@w2xj.net] Gesendet: Dienstag, 9. Juni 2020 00:55 An: Peter Kaletsch Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Betreff: Re: [Elecraft] K3 working on motorboats - possible try and AX1 with a tripod mount mounted to the boat and then one or two radials over the hull and into the water. Another member expressed interest in operating over salt water when additional ground is much less important. Sent from my iPad > On Jun 8, 2020, at 4:48 PM, Peter Kaletsch wrote: > > Hello fellows; > > You are my last hope as I cannot imagine that I am the only one in the world > who wants to try that. > > For many months I have been trying in vain to get tips on how to operate a K3 > well on a small 13 meter motor yacht. I am talking about fresh water usage > (Lake Garda in Italy), not salt water, and of a GFK built boat. > > A dipole is eliminated, it is not a sailing boat. I thought of using a > Tarheel Antenna, but the manufacturer advised me against it. > > So normal, shortened mobile antennas, mounted on the device carrier, where > also the antenna for marine radio is located, should point the way ...? > > But how do I get a reasonably effective earth? I read a lot of negative > things about ground plates - fast growth, the hull has to be pierced. > > I have already considered laying radials from the antenna base below deck in > the invisible area, but will this work...? > > I am very grateful for every tip and every help - also to > pkalet...@kaletsch-gmbh.de > > Thanks in advance > > Peter - DL1MDZ > > > > Peter Kaletsch GmbH | Fürstenrieder Straße 275 | 81377 München | Tel: > +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 0 | Fax: +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 99 | > i...@kaletsch-gmbh.de | Handelsregisternummer HRB 108093 | Amtsgericht > Muenchen | Steuer-Nr: 143/170/40017 | Geschäftsführer: Peter Kaletsch | Sitz > der Gesellschaft: München | Hinweis / reference: > Die Inhalte dieser Nachricht dürfen nur für die beabsichtigten Zwecke > verwendet werden. The content of this Message may only be used for the > intended purposes. > __ > 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 > w...@w2xj.net Peter Kaletsch GmbH | Fürstenrieder Straße 275 | 81377 München | Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 0 | Fax: +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 99 | i...@kaletsch-gmbh.de | Handelsregisternummer HRB 108093 | Amtsgericht Muenchen | Steuer-Nr: 143/170/40017 | Geschäftsführer: Peter Kaletsch | Sitz der Gesellschaft: München | Hinweis / reference: Die Inhalte dieser Nachricht dürfen nur für die beabsichtigten Zwecke verwendet werden. The content of this Message may only be used for the intended purposes. __ 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 working on motorboats - possible
Hello fellows; You are my last hope as I cannot imagine that I am the only one in the world who wants to try that. For many months I have been trying in vain to get tips on how to operate a K3 well on a small 13 meter motor yacht. I am talking about fresh water usage (Lake Garda in Italy), not salt water, and of a GFK built boat. A dipole is eliminated, it is not a sailing boat. I thought of using a Tarheel Antenna, but the manufacturer advised me against it. So normal, shortened mobile antennas, mounted on the device carrier, where also the antenna for marine radio is located, should point the way ...? But how do I get a reasonably effective earth? I read a lot of negative things about ground plates - fast growth, the hull has to be pierced. I have already considered laying radials from the antenna base below deck in the invisible area, but will this work...? I am very grateful for every tip and every help - also to pkalet...@kaletsch-gmbh.de Thanks in advance Peter - DL1MDZ Peter Kaletsch GmbH | Fürstenrieder Straße 275 | 81377 München | Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 0 | Fax: +49 (0) 89 / 89 60 93 - 99 | i...@kaletsch-gmbh.de | Handelsregisternummer HRB 108093 | Amtsgericht Muenchen | Steuer-Nr: 143/170/40017 | Geschäftsführer: Peter Kaletsch | Sitz der Gesellschaft: München | Hinweis / reference: Die Inhalte dieser Nachricht dürfen nur für die beabsichtigten Zwecke verwendet werden. The content of this Message may only be used for the intended purposes. __ 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] FIXED--was NOT the feedline
Ouch! I'll get a few of these but reserve them for anything in the air that's difficult to access. I still have about 5 feet of the Ancor marine heat shrink for anything at ground level. - pjd -Original Message- From: Grant Youngman DigiKey has it in 6” or 8” pieces of various diameters. It runs around $25.00 per piece, with quantity discounts. Not inexpensive … __ 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] Self-fusing liquid electrical tape
My whole ground system is Cadweld bonded. I bought the new style shots and purchased the igniter from Joel and the RF Connection in MD. Couldn't have been happier. And they're fun to fire off, too! - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Grant Youngman Sent: Friday, June 5, 2020 12:05 PM To: k2...@arrl.net Cc: Elecraft Refl Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Self-fusing liquid electrical tape Cad-weld isn’t expensive — $11-15 per weld depending on where you buy the stuff. Typically sold in kits of 6 one-shot crucibles, and available for varying ground wire sizes on 1/2” or 5/8” ground rods. Grant NQ5T > On Jun 5, 2020, at 11:17 AM, Phil Kane wrote: > > On 6/4/2020 8:50 PM, Ed Tanton wrote: > >> I should have mentioned that. I strip 5 or 6 inches of insulation. >> That was why I cleaned the top of the ground rod and sprayed it with >> electrical lubricant. I used a stainless steel hose clamp to hold the >> stripped wires against the ground rod at each end of the stripped >> wire portions. The next part is what I wrote about to start with. > > Thank you for explaining that. For our commercial and public safety > communication site grounding systems our firm insists on cad-weld at > all exposed and buried connection points but I would suspect that very > few hams, let alone residential or even commercial electricians, would > go to that length. My mentor in that area, the late Tom Croda, who > during his lifetime was the national expert in comm site power and > grounding, would not settle for anything less. > > 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane > Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402 > __ 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 li...@w2irt.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] FIXED--was NOT the feedline
First time I've ever heard of this product and it's quite intriguing. Where is this available from in quantities a typical home station would use? I go through a 3 foot section of .75" marine grade heat shrink in about 3-5 years. - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of donov...@starpower.net Sent: Friday, June 5, 2020 2:03 AM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] FIXED--was NOT the feedline This is an interesting video demonstrating the relative benefits of heat shrink and cold shrink tubing www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSOXfkB6Jgw 73 Frank W3LPL - Original Message - From: "Peter Dougherty" To: "Edward R Cole" , "Elecraft Reflector" Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2020 3:01:59 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] FIXED--was NOT the feedline Ed, this is the stuff I use on my outdoor connectors: https://tinyurl.com/y7uqqwsb Marine grade adhesive lined. 3/4" for plain ol' PL259 connections, and 1" for N connectors. And I mis-spoke (mis-typed??) earlier. Had a senior moment when I said Scotch 130 and Scotch 88 was my default. That HAD BEEN my default. My new default from about 3 or 4 years ago is Scotch 130 and this heat shrink if it's in the air, and just the marine grade heat shrink if it's at ground level. I find this combination to be unbeatable. - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Edward R Cole Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2020 3:36 AM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] FIXED--was NOT the feedline Some large coax connectors are supplied with heat shrink that has a melted inner "goo" which is very good sealant. I've found removal is not messy so apparently the "goo" cures in some manner. Pretty sure you can buy it at commercial electrical suppliers (but probably in 4-foot chunks which will cost you). I buy my ordinary heat shrink and tywraps (Thomas & Betts) from a local commercial electrical supply house. __ 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 donov...@starpower.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 li...@w2irt.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] FIXED--was NOT the feedline
This is my default procedure, but every so often the knife slips when I'm removing it and I end up slicing into the cable jacket itself. Usually no big deal; cut it and pop on a new connector, but if it's on the antenna end it's not so trivial. - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Dave ColeI always use Scotch 130, (self fusing tape), first, then Scotch 88. I cut the tape down the long axis, and it opes up like a peanut, leaving no residue or old tape. 73, and thanks, 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
Re: [Elecraft] FIXED--was NOT the feedline
Never sliced my hand (thankfully), but yeah, I've damaged the cable a few times. See my correction, though; I use the 130 and marine grade heat shrink as my default, not 130 and 88. I *_did_* use 130+88 on the LFA yesterday, which is where this current discussion started. - pjd -Original Message- From: Dave Cole Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2020 10:59 AM To: Peter Dougherty ; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] FIXED--was NOT the feedline I have that same problem, maybe 1 in 10 or 2,0 I slice the cable or my hand... ;) 73, and thanks, Dave (NK7Z) https://www.nk7z.net ARRL Volunteer Examiner ARRL Technical Specialist ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources On 6/4/20 7:44 AM, Peter Dougherty wrote: > This is my default procedure, but every so often the knife slips when I'm > removing it and I end up slicing into the cable jacket itself. Usually no big > deal; cut it and pop on a new connector, but if it's on the antenna end it's > not so trivial. > > - pjd > > -Original Message- > From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On > Behalf Of Dave ColeI always use Scotch 130, (self fusing tape), first, then > Scotch 88. I cut the tape down the long axis, and it opes up like a peanut, > leaving no residue or old tape. > > 73, and thanks, > 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
Re: [Elecraft] FIXED--was NOT the feedline
Ed, this is the stuff I use on my outdoor connectors: https://tinyurl.com/y7uqqwsb Marine grade adhesive lined. 3/4" for plain ol' PL259 connections, and 1" for N connectors. And I mis-spoke (mis-typed??) earlier. Had a senior moment when I said Scotch 130 and Scotch 88 was my default. That HAD BEEN my default. My new default from about 3 or 4 years ago is Scotch 130 and this heat shrink if it's in the air, and just the marine grade heat shrink if it's at ground level. I find this combination to be unbeatable. - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Edward R Cole Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2020 3:36 AM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] FIXED--was NOT the feedline Some large coax connectors are supplied with heat shrink that has a melted inner "goo" which is very good sealant. I've found removal is not messy so apparently the "goo" cures in some manner. Pretty sure you can buy it at commercial electrical suppliers (but probably in 4-foot chunks which will cost you). I buy my ordinary heat shrink and tywraps (Thomas & Betts) from a local commercial electrical supply house. __ 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] FIXED--was NOT the feedline
For PL-259 or Type-N to female connections outside my standard practice is either double-wall marine grade heat shrink, or Scotch-130 self-annealing tape (probably the same stuff as the 3M 2155) and the marine grade heat shrink. We had a line of storms headed this way after I read your post, and I decided to lower/tilt the tower over, and I wrapped the screw ends of the balun with Scotch 130 and Super 88. Not sure what got into me when I put the antenna up; I guess I figured SS hardware shouldn't be a problem in the elements, but yeah, better safe than sorry. - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Walter Underwood Sent: Wednesday, June 3, 2020 1:10 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] FIXED--was NOT the feedline I use the weatherproofing described here. I think this practice has a long history in telephone wiring. It is a detailed walk-through of what you described. https://static.dxengineering.com/pdf/WeatherProofingCoax-TechTip.pdf <https://static.dxengineering.com/pdf/WeatherProofingCoax-TechTip.pdf> wunder K6WRU Walter Underwood CM87wj http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog) > On Jun 3, 2020, at 9:58 AM, Clay Autery wrote: > > I've got to get to class, but there are a NUMBER of different methods and procedures that are used. > > Self-fusing tape properly applied covered by top-quality electrical tape to protect the self-fusing tape from UV... > There are specific points on installation that you want to observe. > > Someone will chime in with deatil or a reference to a procedure... If not, I will do it later... Class in 3 minutes. > > 73, > > __ > Clay Autery, KY5G > (318) 518-1389 > > On 06/03/20 10:35, Peter Dougherty wrote: >> No, and I wasn't sure how to accomplish this. It's stainless >> hardware, but I'm guessing I should probably wrap the feedpoint up in >> self-annealing tape and Scotch 88 just to be safe. >> >> - pjd >> >> -Original Message- >> From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net >> On Behalf Of Dave Cole >> Sent: Wednesday, June 3, 2020 7:27 AM >> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] FIXED--was NOT the feedline >> >> Hi, >> >> Is the open end of that feedline where it connects to the antenna >> weatherproofed? >> >> 73, and thanks, >> Dave (NK7Z) >> https://www.nk7z.net >> ARRL Volunteer Examiner >> ARRL Technical Specialist >> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources >> >> On 6/2/20 8:15 PM, Peter Dougherty wrote: >>> HI all, >>> >>> A postscript to the problem. First off, a huge thank you to the many >> replies received. I was fortunate that the problem was not in the >> KPA-1500 as I'd originally feared. >>> Much troubleshooting within the past few days. Originally the amp >>> was >> "iffy" on the old M-squared 6m5, and problematic (faulting) during >> damp or wet weather. This prompted the replacement of both the antenna and feedline. >>> The hard faults were still occurring, until it was suggested the >>> Ten-Tec >> 238 tuner that I was using exclusively for the built-in antenna >> switch was now the issue. I took this out of line today, and lowered >> the tower to fine-tune the LFA's feed point and now everything is >> humming along just nicely. The KPA-1500 is happy at 1.5 kW and >> showing an SWR of 1.2 in dry conditions. I will keep my fingers >> crossed that the wet weather expected in the next day or so won't bother it all that much. >>> The final step was to move the 6m feedline from the secondary inlet >>> box to >> the main antenna switch on the big tower. The downside here is I now >> have an additional 70 feet of BuryFlex in the line, so I'm guessing a >> total of about >> 1.5 to 1.7dB of feedline loss. This is something I would like to >> address in the future with an eye to dropping it below 1dB. >>> Screencaps: >>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/1y4vyd17pbgq8ty/6m%20via%20the%20antenna%2 >>> 0s >>> witch.png?dl=0 >>> >>> And >>> >>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/5x8n0bum4nwcxqp/6m%20LFA%20-%20SWR%20after >>> %2 >>> 0tuning.png?dl=0 >>> >>> And for the balun discussion, this is what's in place, before the >>> double-walled heat-shrink was applied: >>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/18pgthl67rtq3bl/2020-05-31%2017.51.08.jpg? >>> dl >>> =0 >>> >>> - pjd >>> >>> __ >>> Elecraft mailing list
Re: [Elecraft] FIXED--was NOT the feedline
No, and I wasn't sure how to accomplish this. It's stainless hardware, but I'm guessing I should probably wrap the feedpoint up in self-annealing tape and Scotch 88 just to be safe. - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Dave Cole Sent: Wednesday, June 3, 2020 7:27 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] FIXED--was NOT the feedline Hi, Is the open end of that feedline where it connects to the antenna weatherproofed? 73, and thanks, Dave (NK7Z) https://www.nk7z.net ARRL Volunteer Examiner ARRL Technical Specialist ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources On 6/2/20 8:15 PM, Peter Dougherty wrote: > HI all, > > A postscript to the problem. First off, a huge thank you to the many replies received. I was fortunate that the problem was not in the KPA-1500 as I'd originally feared. > > Much troubleshooting within the past few days. Originally the amp was "iffy" on the old M-squared 6m5, and problematic (faulting) during damp or wet weather. This prompted the replacement of both the antenna and feedline. > > The hard faults were still occurring, until it was suggested the Ten-Tec 238 tuner that I was using exclusively for the built-in antenna switch was now the issue. I took this out of line today, and lowered the tower to fine-tune the LFA's feed point and now everything is humming along just nicely. The KPA-1500 is happy at 1.5 kW and showing an SWR of 1.2 in dry conditions. I will keep my fingers crossed that the wet weather expected in the next day or so won't bother it all that much. > > The final step was to move the 6m feedline from the secondary inlet box to the main antenna switch on the big tower. The downside here is I now have an additional 70 feet of BuryFlex in the line, so I'm guessing a total of about 1.5 to 1.7dB of feedline loss. This is something I would like to address in the future with an eye to dropping it below 1dB. > > Screencaps: > https://www.dropbox.com/s/1y4vyd17pbgq8ty/6m%20via%20the%20antenna%20s > witch.png?dl=0 > > And > > https://www.dropbox.com/s/5x8n0bum4nwcxqp/6m%20LFA%20-%20SWR%20after%2 > 0tuning.png?dl=0 > > And for the balun discussion, this is what's in place, before the > double-walled heat-shrink was applied: > https://www.dropbox.com/s/18pgthl67rtq3bl/2020-05-31%2017.51.08.jpg?dl > =0 > > - pjd > > __ > 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 > d...@nk7z.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 li...@w2irt.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] FIXED--was NOT the feedline
HI all, A postscript to the problem. First off, a huge thank you to the many replies received. I was fortunate that the problem was not in the KPA-1500 as I'd originally feared. Much troubleshooting within the past few days. Originally the amp was "iffy" on the old M-squared 6m5, and problematic (faulting) during damp or wet weather. This prompted the replacement of both the antenna and feedline. The hard faults were still occurring, until it was suggested the Ten-Tec 238 tuner that I was using exclusively for the built-in antenna switch was now the issue. I took this out of line today, and lowered the tower to fine-tune the LFA's feed point and now everything is humming along just nicely. The KPA-1500 is happy at 1.5 kW and showing an SWR of 1.2 in dry conditions. I will keep my fingers crossed that the wet weather expected in the next day or so won't bother it all that much. The final step was to move the 6m feedline from the secondary inlet box to the main antenna switch on the big tower. The downside here is I now have an additional 70 feet of BuryFlex in the line, so I'm guessing a total of about 1.5 to 1.7dB of feedline loss. This is something I would like to address in the future with an eye to dropping it below 1dB. Screencaps: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1y4vyd17pbgq8ty/6m%20via%20the%20antenna%20switch.png?dl=0 And https://www.dropbox.com/s/5x8n0bum4nwcxqp/6m%20LFA%20-%20SWR%20after%20tuning.png?dl=0 And for the balun discussion, this is what's in place, before the double-walled heat-shrink was applied: https://www.dropbox.com/s/18pgthl67rtq3bl/2020-05-31%2017.51.08.jpg?dl=0 - pjd __ 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] NOT the feedline
Just to clarify, I was **NOT** using the tuner to tune the 6m antenna system. I was using it as a coax switch, so I could keep the KPA-1500 powered down (silencing the very noisy PSU fan) and still be able to receive 6m as well as other bands. I need the room to be quiet since my XYL is working-from-home a few feet away from me in the same room, and the KPA's power supply fan is bothersome to both her and me. Ideally, the KPA-1500 should be able to default to either ANT-1 or ANT-2 in power-down mode but that is not the case. So I need a quiet alternative. I'm not a fan of tuners of any kind. In any event, the TT-238 is out of line now and the SWR problem is MARGINALLY better on the KPA-1500. It's still showing a higher SWR than the antenna analyzer measured but it hasn't folded back yet. - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Mark Goldberg Sent: Tuesday, June 2, 2020 2:10 AM To: Bob McGraw K4TAX Cc: Elecraft Mailing List Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline I want to mention that my LDG AT-600Pro has a minimum capacitance that is too high for a good match to my antenna on 6 meters. Certainly seems like removing the Ten Tec tuner would be a good thing to try. Can you open the Ten Tec tuner and use an IR thermometer to monitor the components? I don't know anything about it's construction. You could see them heating up. Just running medium power of maybe 500W would slow things down and let you see the SWR increasing before the amp trips. That would confirm that something is heating up vs arcing. 73, Mark W7MLG On Mon, Jun 1, 2020 at 9:01 PM Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote: > Plus there is L1 which is 0.3uH in the circuit and C7 and C8 in the > circuit when in the bypass position. This does not allow the tuner, > even in bypass mode, to work well as an antenna switch on 6M. > > The capacitors in question are not rated for the RF current > experienced under certain load Z conditions. They heat, change value, > and the SWR creeps up. Allow them to cool and the SWR is back to the > starting point.I usually tweaked mine such that the SWR started off > a bit high, came down as I transmitted and if transmitting a bit longer > the SWR increased. Later I got tired of this and changed the group of > disk ceramic caps to 470 pf Russian doorknob caps. Problem solved. > > 73 > > Bob, K4TAX > > > On 6/1/2020 10:08 PM, Jim Brown wrote: > > his might be it, Peter. ! I've used (and loved) the Ten Tec 229 and > > 238 tuners, but some of their fixed capacitors are under-rated for > > power. This is fairly well known among Ten Tec users, so I read > > about it somewhere and replaced those in my tuners with caps having > > higher power ratings. > > __ > 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 > marklgoldb...@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 li...@w2irt.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline
It's a BIT better on ANT-2, but still faults out on occasion, and I'm not getting a true SWR reading. It is slightly more stable, though, to answer your question. - pjd -Original Message- From: Vic Rosenthal Sent: Tuesday, June 2, 2020 1:01 AM To: Peter Dougherty Cc: Jack Brindle ; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline Pardon me if this has already been covered, but do you have the same problem if you connect the antenna to ANT-2 on the KPA? I know you don’t want to do this permanently, but just as a test. Victor 4X6GP > On 2 Jun 2020, at 3:47, Peter Dougherty wrote: > > Thanks for the reply, Jack. > > Here's a FULL summary of what is in the line at this moment from the jack on > up. > > PL-259 (soldered, Amphenol 83-1SP as all are) to about 2 feet of RG-213 > feeding into a Ten-Tec Tuner, which is being used only as an antenna switch > and is in bypass. This is needed because the power supply fan noise on the > KPA-1500 is just so overwhelming that I can only power it on when needed. I > am primarily an HF operator, so ANT-1 is reserved for my HF stack. If I put > the 6m antenna on ANT-2, I would need to keep the amp running. So everything > goes out on ANT-1, through the TT-238. From there, one feedline goes to the > HF stack and the other to the 6m output. It gets SLIGHTLY better if I go > directly from the KPA-1500 to the input box, as follows but I still > experience faults. > > From there, a PL-259, and 7 or 8 feet of RG-213. Another PL-259, an Amphenol > barrel connector in the input box, PL259, then approximately 65 or 70 feet of > Commscope-branded LMR-400. PL-259 from that is connected to an Amphenol > SO-239 female-to-N-Male, the choke balun, then the driven loop element to the > antenna. > > As of Tuesday morning this will change as follows. KPA-1500 ANT-1 out, PL-259 > and about 40' of Davis BuryFlex out to the remote antenna switch at the base > of the HF stack. From there, about 25 more feet of BuryFlex, a barrel > connector then the LMR-400 up to the 6m antenna. This will basically just be > an experiment to see if there's any improvement; I'll be bypassing both the > old Ten-Tec tuner/switch and the inlet box, and routing via the HF signal > path and automatic antenna switch. Adding 65' of BuryFlex to the path strikes > me as adding measurable and fairly significant loss to an otherwise really > good, quiet antenna system, but if it lets me operate without having to worry > about hard faults all the time then I'll take that as a tradeoff. > > - pjd > > -Original Message- > From: Jack Brindle > Sent: Monday, June 1, 2020 6:09 PM > To: Peter Dougherty > Cc: Bob McGraw K4TAX ; elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline > > Lets take another try at this. There still isn’t enough information in your > emails to really determine what might be going on. From the amplifier’s > viewpoint, *everything* from the antenna jack on the back of the amplifier is > part of the antenna system. So far we know it consists of some section of > RG213, another of LM400, a balun of some sort, and an antenna. There are > undoubtedly some adapters and couplers in between, and perhaps a few other > things. Knowing exactly what these are is critical in making any suggestions. > > Every few months since we released the KPA500 we have seen emails from folks > who are certain that the amplifier is causing a problem. We all build our > stations for low power, then decide that adding an amplifier is needed, so we > buy one. We then are faced with issues driving a lot more power into the > antenna system. These are caused by deficiencies in that system, which was > sized for much lower power, and almost always will contain at least one > component that cannot handle the power. The last part of the KPA500 before > power goes out is the directional coupler (note: it is after the low pass > filters), the KPA1500 has its ATU after those components. With the KPA1500 > ATU in bypass, the directional coupler becomes the last component. This is > important because the directional coupler will see any problem in the antenna > system, and report it. No amplifier component is in the way to modify things, > we get a true picture of what follows the amplifier. So, when something > glitches in the antenna system (usually an arc in a coupler, or an overheated > toroid in a balun or matching unit), the directional coupler picks it up and > moves to protect the amplifier. > > With this in mind, place the KPA1500 ATU into bypass and perform the test. > When you see the fault occur, you then need to look at the entire antenna > system, starting at the antenna jack on the back o
Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline
I have an HF-Auto that is just unsuitable for contest/DX duty, even with the kludge workaround software--which often doesn't work right. I gave up on it and hope to sell it to a ragchewer who will undoubtedly make better use of it than I ever could. And I agree about the Palstar support being...unpleasant. I saved up for 3 years to buy that and I feel sick about it. I would like to find a good high-quality tuner that is reliable and able to comfortably handle 1500W and (preferably) tune automatically via CAT control. - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Adrian Sent: Monday, June 1, 2020 11:32 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline My recent experience with Palstar has not been good. An expensive DL1500 dummy load in which the SO239 had not been mounted correct bwith the locknut still ten turns loose, requiring dismantle and repair new out of the box by myself. Also a new expensive AT2K tuner in which the roller inductor shaft had not been graphite greased nor tensioned. My SPE amp @ 400w went out on alarm quickly until I disassembled and repaired myself. I found Palstar support rude and in self denial of the issues I raised. In hindsight I should have saved a heap of money and gone with MFJ. On 2/6/20 1:08 pm, Jim Brown wrote: > On 6/1/2020 5:47 PM, Peter Dougherty wrote: >> Ten-Tec Tuner, > > This might be it, Peter. ! I've used (and loved) the Ten Tec 229 and > 238 tuners, but some of their fixed capacitors are under-rated for > power. This is fairly well known among Ten Tec users, so I read about > it somewhere and replaced those in my tuners with caps having higher > power ratings. > > There's another design flaw -- their antenna selection switch fails to > to provide a return for RF current, using the chassis instead. This > adds inductance in series with the signal path, which increasingly > degrades SWR and crosstalk with increasing frequency. Palstar makes > the same mistake in tuners I saw at Dayton 8-10 years ago. When I > pointed it out to a guy in their booth who claimed to be its designer, > he told me I was crazy! > > 73, Jim K9YC > __ 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 li...@w2irt.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline
It's the 6 element LFA on a 6.8 meter boom. The balun is their 50 MHz ferrite core balun. I want to get the Ten-Tec tuner out of the equation forthwith but unless I can solve the fan noise problems it's a non-starter. My XYL is working from home in the same home-office that my shack is located in, about 6 feet away from my operating desk. The fan noise drives *me* crazy but she won't tolerate it being on all day when I'm just monitoring six. I work enough stuff on CW on HF for it to remain the primary concern, so I can't really put that on ANT-2, which I did try. Hopefully going through the main antenna switch will help--I'll find out tomorrow. - pjd -Original Message- From: Jack Brindle Sent: Monday, June 1, 2020 9:29 PM To: Peter Dougherty Cc: Elecraft Mailer Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline Is it the 3 element 6m LFA? That is an interesting antenna. Which of the baluns did you get? They show three - two for 50 - 70 MHz, and a third for HF and 6m. G0KSC has some interesting designed - I will be waiting to hear your results with this one. I’ll go through your details here and see what I might come up with. In the mean time I will be interested in the results of your tests tomorrow. Getting info about the TenTec ATU/switch may be difficult, but it wouldn’t surprise me if that is the source. I am sure somewhere in here you will find the problem. I usually take these problem-solving discussion off-line, but let’s leave this one here because of the already wide interest. 73 and have a great evening! Jack, W6FB > On Jun 1, 2020, at 5:47 PM, Peter Dougherty wrote: > > Thanks for the reply, Jack. > > Here's a FULL summary of what is in the line at this moment from the jack on > up. > > PL-259 (soldered, Amphenol 83-1SP as all are) to about 2 feet of RG-213 > feeding into a Ten-Tec Tuner, which is being used only as an antenna switch > and is in bypass. This is needed because the power supply fan noise on the > KPA-1500 is just so overwhelming that I can only power it on when needed. I > am primarily an HF operator, so ANT-1 is reserved for my HF stack. If I put > the 6m antenna on ANT-2, I would need to keep the amp running. So everything > goes out on ANT-1, through the TT-238. From there, one feedline goes to the > HF stack and the other to the 6m output. It gets SLIGHTLY better if I go > directly from the KPA-1500 to the input box, as follows but I still > experience faults. > > From there, a PL-259, and 7 or 8 feet of RG-213. Another PL-259, an Amphenol > barrel connector in the input box, PL259, then approximately 65 or 70 feet of > Commscope-branded LMR-400. PL-259 from that is connected to an Amphenol > SO-239 female-to-N-Male, the choke balun, then the driven loop element to the > antenna. > > As of Tuesday morning this will change as follows. KPA-1500 ANT-1 out, PL-259 > and about 40' of Davis BuryFlex out to the remote antenna switch at the base > of the HF stack. From there, about 25 more feet of BuryFlex, a barrel > connector then the LMR-400 up to the 6m antenna. This will basically just be > an experiment to see if there's any improvement; I'll be bypassing both the > old Ten-Tec tuner/switch and the inlet box, and routing via the HF signal > path and automatic antenna switch. Adding 65' of BuryFlex to the path strikes > me as adding measurable and fairly significant loss to an otherwise really > good, quiet antenna system, but if it lets me operate without having to worry > about hard faults all the time then I'll take that as a tradeoff. > > - pjd > > -Original Message- > From: Jack Brindle > Sent: Monday, June 1, 2020 6:09 PM > To: Peter Dougherty > Cc: Bob McGraw K4TAX ; elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline > > Lets take another try at this. There still isn’t enough information in your > emails to really determine what might be going on. From the amplifier’s > viewpoint, *everything* from the antenna jack on the back of the amplifier is > part of the antenna system. So far we know it consists of some section of > RG213, another of LM400, a balun of some sort, and an antenna. There are > undoubtedly some adapters and couplers in between, and perhaps a few other > things. Knowing exactly what these are is critical in making any suggestions. > > Every few months since we released the KPA500 we have seen emails from folks > who are certain that the amplifier is causing a problem. We all build our > stations for low power, then decide that adding an amplifier is needed, so we > buy one. We then are faced with issues driving a lot more power into the > antenna system. These are caused by deficiencies in that system, which was > sized for much lower power, and almost always will contain at l
Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline
Thanks for the reply, Jack. Here's a FULL summary of what is in the line at this moment from the jack on up. PL-259 (soldered, Amphenol 83-1SP as all are) to about 2 feet of RG-213 feeding into a Ten-Tec Tuner, which is being used only as an antenna switch and is in bypass. This is needed because the power supply fan noise on the KPA-1500 is just so overwhelming that I can only power it on when needed. I am primarily an HF operator, so ANT-1 is reserved for my HF stack. If I put the 6m antenna on ANT-2, I would need to keep the amp running. So everything goes out on ANT-1, through the TT-238. From there, one feedline goes to the HF stack and the other to the 6m output. It gets SLIGHTLY better if I go directly from the KPA-1500 to the input box, as follows but I still experience faults. From there, a PL-259, and 7 or 8 feet of RG-213. Another PL-259, an Amphenol barrel connector in the input box, PL259, then approximately 65 or 70 feet of Commscope-branded LMR-400. PL-259 from that is connected to an Amphenol SO-239 female-to-N-Male, the choke balun, then the driven loop element to the antenna. As of Tuesday morning this will change as follows. KPA-1500 ANT-1 out, PL-259 and about 40' of Davis BuryFlex out to the remote antenna switch at the base of the HF stack. From there, about 25 more feet of BuryFlex, a barrel connector then the LMR-400 up to the 6m antenna. This will basically just be an experiment to see if there's any improvement; I'll be bypassing both the old Ten-Tec tuner/switch and the inlet box, and routing via the HF signal path and automatic antenna switch. Adding 65' of BuryFlex to the path strikes me as adding measurable and fairly significant loss to an otherwise really good, quiet antenna system, but if it lets me operate without having to worry about hard faults all the time then I'll take that as a tradeoff. - pjd -Original Message- From: Jack Brindle Sent: Monday, June 1, 2020 6:09 PM To: Peter Dougherty Cc: Bob McGraw K4TAX ; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline Lets take another try at this. There still isn’t enough information in your emails to really determine what might be going on. From the amplifier’s viewpoint, *everything* from the antenna jack on the back of the amplifier is part of the antenna system. So far we know it consists of some section of RG213, another of LM400, a balun of some sort, and an antenna. There are undoubtedly some adapters and couplers in between, and perhaps a few other things. Knowing exactly what these are is critical in making any suggestions. Every few months since we released the KPA500 we have seen emails from folks who are certain that the amplifier is causing a problem. We all build our stations for low power, then decide that adding an amplifier is needed, so we buy one. We then are faced with issues driving a lot more power into the antenna system. These are caused by deficiencies in that system, which was sized for much lower power, and almost always will contain at least one component that cannot handle the power. The last part of the KPA500 before power goes out is the directional coupler (note: it is after the low pass filters), the KPA1500 has its ATU after those components. With the KPA1500 ATU in bypass, the directional coupler becomes the last component. This is important because the directional coupler will see any problem in the antenna system, and report it. No amplifier component is in the way to modify things, we get a true picture of what follows the amplifier. So, when something glitches in the antenna system (usually an arc in a coupler, or an overheated toroid in a balun or matching unit), the directional coupler picks it up and moves to protect the amplifier. With this in mind, place the KPA1500 ATU into bypass and perform the test. When you see the fault occur, you then need to look at the entire antenna system, starting at the antenna jack on the back of the KPA1500. All of the components are suspect, even a new part (balun, antenna, etc), which may have been affected by high power right after installation. Be sure to looks at the RG213, and at the coupler to the LM400. You have made reference to shack feed-through, what is that, and does it use components that might have issues? As in past cases, find the problem in the overall antenna system, and the KPA1500 will be much happier, as will you. So, before we can help you, we need to know the details of the system. 73! Jack, W6FB Elecraft Engineering > On Jun 1, 2020, at 2:25 PM, Peter Dougherty wrote: > > Your point is valid, however the underlying fact in my situation is that the > new antenna with the new 1:1 current balun (i.e. feedline choke) is > presenting **identically** to my old antenna that didn't have a balun. > Neither better nor worse. > > - pjd > > -Original Message- > From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline
Your point is valid, however the underlying fact in my situation is that the new antenna with the new 1:1 current balun (i.e. feedline choke) is presenting **identically** to my old antenna that didn't have a balun. Neither better nor worse. - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Bob McGraw K4TAX Sent: Monday, June 1, 2020 4:48 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline Based on my experience, balun power ratings are for MATCHED conditions. It is rare that hams use a balun in a matched condition.Thus a 1:1 balun should see 50 ohms on the input and 50 ohms on the output, while a 4:1 balun should see 200 ohms on the output and 50 ohms on the input. In the case of a resonant folded dipole, a 4:1 balun is typically operating in a nearly matched condition.All others combinations are unknown and random. I run about 500 watts on all bands. My baluns are rated at 5KW! It takes 3 or 4 big hunkin' pieces of ferrite to attain this power level. My 6 meter balun is a 1/2 wavelength electrically of RG-213. No ferrite! Buy or build a balun of your choice. Using an IR temperature gun, measure the ambient temperature of the core. Run about 1/2 rated power carrier for 30 to 60 seconds. Measure the temperature again. If it is warm to hot, this is RF producing heat. And likely continuing will produce core failure. This is not a good balun for your application. One of my baluns work between the output of my KAT500 and the balanced feed line connected to the center of a 256 ft wire. That antenna works 160M - 6M with zero issues. Now, I do run a hybrid balun being a 4:1 Guanella balun as a transformer, and it is fed with a 1:1 balun for common mode rejection. Most single core, i.e. 2 or 3 cores stacked with 2 to 4 windings are not at all a proper balun design A Guanella balun will have 2 cores with 2 windings and then another 2 separate cores with another 2 windings. These are then wired to produce a 4:1 balun with good common mode rejection.Most "factory" 4:1 baluns are poorly designed and built junk. See https://www.dj0ip.de/balun-stuff/ for further references. 73 Bob, K4TAX On 6/1/2020 8:45 AM, Alan - G4GNX wrote: > I have a similar issue with ferrite 'balun' heating, although mostly > tested on 40 metres. I'm using an OSCFD (Windom) which has a main 4:1 > balun at the feed point, but also has a sleeve 'balun' consisting of 8 > ferrites wrapped in a plastic sleeve, about 3 feet from the feed > point. If I run the K3S at 100W, via the KPA500 in standby, then > through the KAT500 tuner, I see no problems. > > On increasing the power to 200W by using the KPA500 in Operate and > about 10W drive from the K3S, during a SSB 'over' the temperature of > the KPA500 rises and after a few minutes, the SWR readings on the > KPA500 and KAT500 start to rise. One of the Elecraft guys actually > very kindly went through my fault log and came to the conclusion that > the fault is with the antenna/feeder and I agree with him. What is > strange is that if I leave a solid carrier running at 200W, I can't > easily reproduce the issue and I wonder if its something being > affected by peak excursions with SSB? > > When things do start to go wrong, I can usually perform a manual tune > with the KAT500 and the fault will then not (mostly) be apparent. > > Anyway, I'm in the process of replacing the entire feeder with > Westflex 103 and much bigger ferrites. I will also replace the main > balun which is a 400W device for a 1KW device, as I think that running > the UK max of 400W may be pushing the spec of a 400W balun. Also, the > balun itself or connections to it may be faulty. > > The point now is that I have discovered some damage to the outer > covering of the sleeve 'balun' which may be the result of ferrites > overheating or may be the cause of movement of the ferrites thus > causing instability. Either way, heftier devices seem to be the order > of the day. > > Although the KPA500 temperature rise is somewhat expected, I feel it's > a bit higher over a short period than I would like and may be due to > reflected power. > > 73, > > Alan. G4GNX > > > -- Original Message -- > From: "David Olean" > To: "Peter Dougherty" > Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Sent: 01/06/2020 13:25:18 > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline (was KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; > SWR issues) > >> Hello Peter >> >> I suspect RFI as well. I do not have a KPA1500, so my advice is not >> worth much, but the fact that the fault only occurs when a signal is >> being radiated sends me a red flag. I had a similar problem here >> with my SPE amplifier power output. I was measuring it on an LP-
Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline
The balun (1:1 current choke here) is a red herring. If you follow this thread all the way back, you'll see that the previous antenna was not balun fed, and it used a length of 75 ohm cable and stubs to match. And in this case the balun is made by InnovAntennas, specifically for this antenna (also of their design in the UK). If changing any one or two components had made a significant difference I would have noted it. First was the antenna change. When that failed to show a marked difference then I replaced the feedline. Again, no change whatsoever. It's behaving the same today as it has since I first got on 6m with high power. So either the amp has an issue or it's something incredibly esoteric that will take a miracle to find and fix. I have tried going through an antenna switch and switching via the KPA-1500. No difference. All coax connectors are genuine Amphenol 83-SP1 and assembled correctly. New LMR-400 coax, purchased last year and stored inside over the winter, and new(ish) RG-213 patch cable inside the house. I don't ever reuse connectors or outdoor coax. Everything I'm seeing is pointing to the fault being inside the KPA-1500 at this point. - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Adrian Sent: Monday, June 1, 2020 10:13 AM To: Alan - G4GNX ; Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline If you use a decent combination balun such as ; https://www.balundesigns.com/model-4116-4-1-hybrid-balun-1-5-54mhz-3kw/ if you have any metal structure in range of the field, or https://www.balundesigns.com/model-4115ocf-4-1-for-ocf-dipoles-1-5-54-mhz-5k w/ for a total current 4:1 balun. These are very robust at high power, and no other feedpoint RF common mode choke is required. I ran a K3 , amp and ocf dipole like this, with above balun earlier this decade with great success, had top 4a4a dxpedition total band vk points with this one antenna. Also the windom and ocf are different animals. The true windom uses the vertical section of its feedline as part of the antenna, such that any ocf dipole with a feedpoint common mode choke cannot be referred to as a 'windom' Adrian Fewster On 1/6/20 11:45 pm, Alan - G4GNX wrote: > I have a similar issue with ferrite 'balun' heating, although mostly > tested on 40 metres. I'm using an OSCFD (Windom) which has a main 4:1 > balun at the feed point, but also has a sleeve 'balun' consisting of 8 > ferrites wrapped in a plastic sleeve, about 3 feet from the feed > point. If I run the K3S at 100W, via the KPA500 in standby, then > through the KAT500 tuner, I see no problems. > > On increasing the power to 200W by using the KPA500 in Operate and > about 10W drive from the K3S, during a SSB 'over' the temperature of > the KPA500 rises and after a few minutes, the SWR readings on the > KPA500 and KAT500 start to rise. One of the Elecraft guys actually > very kindly went through my fault log and came to the conclusion that > the fault is with the antenna/feeder and I agree with him. What is > strange is that if I leave a solid carrier running at 200W, I can't > easily reproduce the issue and I wonder if its something being > affected by peak excursions with SSB? > > When things do start to go wrong, I can usually perform a manual tune > with the KAT500 and the fault will then not (mostly) be apparent. > > Anyway, I'm in the process of replacing the entire feeder with > Westflex 103 and much bigger ferrites. I will also replace the main > balun which is a 400W device for a 1KW device, as I think that running > the UK max of 400W may be pushing the spec of a 400W balun. Also, the > balun itself or connections to it may be faulty. > > The point now is that I have discovered some damage to the outer > covering of the sleeve 'balun' which may be the result of ferrites > overheating or may be the cause of movement of the ferrites thus > causing instability. Either way, heftier devices seem to be the order > of the day. > > Although the KPA500 temperature rise is somewhat expected, I feel it's > a bit higher over a short period than I would like and may be due to > reflected power. > > 73, > > Alan. G4GNX > > __ 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 li...@w2irt.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline (was KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues)
I have never driven the amp with 90 Watts. Ever. The 90W figure is what comes out of the K3s *after* the amp has tripped out. With the amp in 'operate' I feed it typically 25-35 Watts. Here are the error codes, as requested (truncated for length--there are MANY more): 441 20-06-01T01:02:22 FLT 90 - PWR REFL freq 50304 inp 13W fwd 1064W refl 198W swr 2.5 23A 32C adc 280 var 198 440 20-05-31T23:45:57 FLT 90 - PWR REFL freq 50008 inp 22W fwd 1356W refl 199W swr 2.2 44A 45C adc 281 var 199 439 20-05-31T23:43:46 OVR 90 - PWR REFL freq 50304 inp 23W fwd 1210W refl 172W swr 2.2 39A 31C adc 257 var 172 438 20-05-31T23:43:39 OVR 90 - PWR REFL freq 50304 inp 23W fwd 1204W refl 172W swr 2.2 39A 28C adc 257 var 172 437 20-05-31T23:43:13 FLT 90 - PWR REFL freq 50304 inp 23W fwd 1298W refl 202W swr 2.3 44A 27C adc 284 var 202 435 20-05-31T02:39:03 OVR 90 - PWR REFL freq 50304 inp 14W fwd 1107W refl 178W swr 2.3 23A 47C adc 262 var 178 434 20-05-31T02:34:03 FLT 90 - PWR REFL freq 50304 inp 15W fwd 1152W refl 198W swr 2.4 28A 33C adc 280 var 198 433 20-05-31T02:25:03 OVR 90 - PWR REFL freq 50304 inp 15W fwd 1130W refl 187W swr 2.3 24A 43C adc 270 var 187 432 20-05-31T02:23:03 FLT 90 - PWR REFL freq 50304 inp 18W fwd 1165W refl 199W swr 2.4 40A 43C adc 281 var 199 431 20-05-31T02:21:33 FLT 90 - PWR REFL freq 50304 inp 20W fwd 1189W refl 201W swr 2.3 46A 48C adc 283 var 201 __ 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] NOT the feedline (was KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues)
The new full-length LMR-400 cable is about 3 feet longer than the old 2-section coax I had before (old = 3/8” hardline and about 8 feet of RG-213). The entry point is grounded to rod immediately below it, connected by 1.5” braid. - pjd From: Mark Goldberg Sent: Monday, June 1, 2020 12:45 AM To: Peter Dougherty Cc: Adrian ; Paul Baldock ; Elecraft Mailing List Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline (was KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues) I haven't seen a discussion of your grounding system or feedline length. 6M can be picky. What does your ground system look like? Do you have any common mode chokes on the feedline? Have you tried adding or subtracting 2-3 feet from the feedline? If it is exactly a multiple of 1/2 wave or 1/4 wave changing the feedline length will move it away from that. Have you tried adding a counterpoise in the shack? That's not the ultimate solution but if it improves things it will tell you something. Can you point an IR thermometer at tuner / balun inductors to see if they are getting hot? Just throwing out ideas. 73, Mark W7MLG On Sun, May 31, 2020 at 9:08 PM Peter Dougherty mailto:li...@w2irt.net> > wrote: New coax and old coax behaved identically. HOWEVER, running into about 80 feet of old RG-213 and into the Cantenna dummy load and it doesn't fault. This is the only condition on 6m where there is no fault. Brand new coax, old coax, brand new antenna, old antenna, with balun, without balun. Always faults except when feeding the pure resistive dummy load. If there's any reactance it trips or gives false SWR info. I would also add, why would a 2:1 SWR trip out the amp at 25 or 30 Watts of drive? On the regular HF bands I can use the internal tuner to take out a 2.5 or 3:1 SWR and it still sends 1400-1450 Watts up the pipe.. - pjd __ 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] NOT the feedline (was KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues)
That's worth a shot. I have a ~7 foot RG-213 patch cable from the back of the amp to the entry box. I don't have any more LMR-400 so I can't use that, but I do have quite a bit of 213 and will make a new patch cable. That's the only bit of the old system that's still remaining. - pjd -Original Message- From: Vic Rosenthal Sent: Monday, June 1, 2020 12:18 AM To: Peter Dougherty Cc: j...@audiosystemsgroup.com; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline (was KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues) Are you using the same output connector on the KPA1500 for the dummy load and the antenna? Perhaps the problem is in one of the SO239s or in the KPA’s switching circuit? Victor 4X6GP > On 1 Jun 2020, at 4:30, Peter Dougherty wrote: > > Many here suggested that it was most likely a feedline issue, and I > figured this was indeed a distinct possibility. > > So this afternoon I replaced the feedline. I now have about 80 feet of > brand new LMR-400, new 83-SP1 connectors (and an Amphenol adaptor at > the balun since I don't have any type-N connectors here). The AA-230 > ZOOM analyzer shows about 1.2:1 at 50.313, with resonance just below > the band. I'll fix that tomorrow, but 1.2 or 1.3:1 should be nothing to the > KPA. > > The TDR screen looks very clean, just a tiny bump where the feedline > goes through the (new) bulkhead connector to get into the house. See: > https://www.dropbox.com/s/izcwvece7nt5f42/2020-05-31%2019.32.44.jpg?dl > =0 > > The SWR chart between 50.000 and 50.500: > https://www.dropbox.com/s/y2xh4l1lihy2ujr/2020-05-31%2021.23.29.jpg?dl > =0 > > Again, I know the antenna is resonant a bit low, but this should NOT > be a factor. So here's what's now going on. > > 1) Into a Cantenna dummy load, with 25W of drive from the M3s, the > KPA-1500 is delivering 1075W and showing 1.4:1. No problem delivering > power and no faults. > > 2) With input power increased, 35W of K3s drive gives 1375W at 1.5 > into the Cantenna. Again, no problem delivering power to the purely resistive > load. > Why a 1.5:1, I don't know, but fine, whatever. I can TX for 15-20 > second periods without issue. > > 3) When I switch over to the live antenna, with25 Watts of drive from > the K3s into the actual antenna and the amp faults out instantly in > bypass. When the amplifier is in bypass and the tuner is in bypass, > and when the K3s is delivering about 90W in FT8 mode, the front panel > on the KPA-1500 says the SWR is 1.9:1. When I press the TUNE button on > the radio, it's showing an SWR of 1.4:1. > > 4) Amp in bypass, tuner inline, press TUNE button on the K3s and the > front panel of the KPA-1500 is showing a perfect 1.0:1 match. It > SHOULD work fine like this, right? > > 5) Pressing ONLY the OPER/STBY button to put the amp in operate (KPA > tuner in and untouched since step 4), the amp SOMETIMES delivers > power, sometimes faults out, shows an SWR of 1.7:1. Pressing the > OPER/STBY button again to use only exciter power, and touching NOTHING > ELSE, it's back to 1.1:1 with 90W of K3s drive. > > 6) There is basically no rhyme or reason why this is happening and > it's > *somewhat* repeatable. The incredibly frustrating part is if I see a > needed station come up, I'll flick the amp's tuner in line and it says it's > tuned. > Once WSJT-X keys the radio, 90 out of 100 times the amp will > hard-fault. If it doesn't fault on the first transmission, it > absolutely WILL on the second transmission. > > So I'm now at a complete loss to understand what's going on here. Amp > is fine into a resistive load. Brand-new antenna, brand new LMR-400 > feedline, brand new connectors, the KPA-1500 is faulting out the same > as it did on the > 10+ year old 6M5 with a patchwork of feedlines. I can't see how this > 10+ is > anything but a problem in the KPA-1500 (S/N 0398). > > - pjd > > -Original Message- > From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net > On Behalf Of Jim Brown > Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2020 8:22 PM > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues > >> On 5/31/2020 9:54 AM, Jim Miller wrote: >> Have you vetted your feedline at 1500w? Many times something might be >> good at low power and fail at 1500. > > This is good advice. Guys who do lots of portable setup say to always > check the coax first, which mostly means check for a connector that's > bad or badly installed. > > In general, if it doesn't say Amphenol or isn't stamped with a MIL > spec number, it's very likely to be poor quality. This includes > barrels, adapters, etc. Also make sure that every connector is" wrench > tight." > > The adv
Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline (was KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues)
New coax and old coax behaved identically. HOWEVER, running into about 80 feet of old RG-213 and into the Cantenna dummy load and it doesn't fault. This is the only condition on 6m where there is no fault. Brand new coax, old coax, brand new antenna, old antenna, with balun, without balun. Always faults except when feeding the pure resistive dummy load. If there's any reactance it trips or gives false SWR info. I would also add, why would a 2:1 SWR trip out the amp at 25 or 30 Watts of drive? On the regular HF bands I can use the internal tuner to take out a 2.5 or 3:1 SWR and it still sends 1400-1450 Watts up the pipe.. - pjd -Original Message- From: Adrian Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2020 11:05 PM To: Peter Dougherty ; 'Paul Baldock' ; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline (was KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues) To remove any doubt, a 1.5kw or close dummy load at the end of the coax to replace antenna, would confirm the amp issue. On 1/6/20 12:27 pm, Peter Dougherty wrote: > Paul, please re-read what I wrote. The 90W figure is with the amp IN > STANDBY! I wouldn't dream of putting more than about 35W into the KPA-1500. > I generally like to run about 1200W on 6m, but even if I turn my K3s > drive down to 20 Watts, it will STILL hard-fault regularly. NO AMOUNT > OF DRIVE from the K3s will stop these problems. If the amp is set to > deliver power it's going to fault on 6m, regardless of what the ATU is > set for (bypass or inline), and the KPA will miss-read the SWR of the antenna > system. > > The resistance figure is 50.8 Ohms, and the reactance is -11 according > to the AA-230. The only difference between "works reliably" and > "faults out all the time" is one is a resistive-only load, the other > has a reactive component. > > - pjd > > - > __ 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] NOT the feedline (was KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues)
Paul, please re-read what I wrote. The 90W figure is with the amp IN STANDBY! I wouldn't dream of putting more than about 35W into the KPA-1500. I generally like to run about 1200W on 6m, but even if I turn my K3s drive down to 20 Watts, it will STILL hard-fault regularly. NO AMOUNT OF DRIVE from the K3s will stop these problems. If the amp is set to deliver power it's going to fault on 6m, regardless of what the ATU is set for (bypass or inline), and the KPA will miss-read the SWR of the antenna system. The resistance figure is 50.8 Ohms, and the reactance is -11 according to the AA-230. The only difference between "works reliably" and "faults out all the time" is one is a resistive-only load, the other has a reactive component. - pjd -Original Message- From: Paul Baldock Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2020 10:06 PM To: Peter Dougherty ; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline (was KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues) A few things I observe on my KPA 1500: On 6m the KPA1500 reads 1.3/1.4:1 into a perfect load. FYI it reads 1.2:1 in to a perfect load on 10M also, but 1.0:1 on all other bands.Elecraft have various excuses for this. 1500W its really pushing it on 6M. Way to much compression. I run mine at 1100W out with 38W drive. as you state 90W, that's way too much drive. As the amp warms up the output drops (on all bands), but I never exceed 38W drive on 6M. On FT8 I drive it to 500W out only, and the amp stays reasonably cool. On 6M I bypass the tuner as the real antenna SWR is less than 1.5:1, and I ignore what the KP1500 says it is. Try the amp the way I use it and see how it goes. Good luck - Paul KW7Y At 06:29 PM 5/31/2020, you wrote: >Many here suggested that it was most likely a feedline issue, and I >figured this was indeed a distinct possibility. > >So this afternoon I replaced the feedline. I now have about 80 feet of >brand new LMR-400, new 83-SP1 connectors (and an Amphenol adaptor at >the balun since I don't have any type-N connectors here). The AA-230 >ZOOM analyzer shows about 1.2:1 at 50.313, with resonance just below >the band. I'll fix that tomorrow, but 1.2 or 1.3:1 should be nothing to the KPA. > >The TDR screen looks very clean, just a tiny bump where the feedline >goes through the (new) bulkhead connector to get into the house. See: >https://www.dropbox.com/s/izcwvece7nt5f42/2020-05-31%2019.32.44.jpg?dl= >0 > >The SWR chart between 50.000 and 50.500: >https://www.dropbox.com/s/y2xh4l1lihy2ujr/2020-05-31%2021.23.29.jpg?dl= >0 > >Again, I know the antenna is resonant a bit low, but this should NOT be >a factor. So here's what's now going on. > >1) Into a Cantenna dummy load, with 25W of drive from the M3s, the >KPA-1500 is delivering 1075W and showing 1.4:1. No problem delivering >power and no faults. > >2) With input power increased, 35W of K3s drive gives 1375W at 1.5 into >the Cantenna. Again, no problem delivering power to the purely resistive load. >Why a 1.5:1, I don't know, but fine, whatever. I can TX for 15-20 >second periods without issue. > >3) When I switch over to the live antenna, with25 Watts of drive from >the K3s into the actual antenna and the amp faults out instantly in >bypass. When the amplifier is in bypass and the tuner is in bypass, and >when the K3s is delivering about 90W in FT8 mode, the front panel on >the KPA-1500 says the SWR is 1.9:1. When I press the TUNE button on the >radio, it's showing an SWR of 1.4:1. > >4) Amp in bypass, tuner inline, press TUNE button on the K3s and the >front panel of the KPA-1500 is showing a perfect 1.0:1 match. It SHOULD >work fine like this, right? > >5) Pressing ONLY the OPER/STBY button to put the amp in operate (KPA >tuner in and untouched since step 4), the amp SOMETIMES delivers power, >sometimes faults out, shows an SWR of 1.7:1. Pressing the OPER/STBY >button again to use only exciter power, and touching NOTHING ELSE, it's >back to 1.1:1 with 90W of K3s drive. > >6) There is basically no rhyme or reason why this is happening and it's >*somewhat* repeatable. The incredibly frustrating part is if I see a >needed station come up, I'll flick the amp's tuner in line and it says it's tuned. >Once WSJT-X keys the radio, 90 out of 100 times the amp will >hard-fault. If it doesn't fault on the first transmission, it >absolutely WILL on the second transmission. > >So I'm now at a complete loss to understand what's going on here. Amp >is fine into a resistive load. Brand-new antenna, brand new LMR-400 >feedline, brand new connectors, the KPA-1500 is faulting out the same >as it did on the >10+ year old 6M5 with a patchwork of feedlines. I can't see how this is >anything but a problem in the KPA-1500 (S/N 0398). > > - pjd > >-Original Message--
Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline (was KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues)
This is a brand-new balun from InnovAntennas, made specifically for this antenna, received this past Thursday. Note that exactly what I described was also occurring on my old setup, on an antenna without a balun feed. Basically everything from the output SO-239 on the KPA-1500 on up to the top of the tower has been replaced with brand new everything. The fault conditions are identical to what was happening beforehand. - pjd -Original Message- From: Jack Brindle Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2020 9:38 PM To: Peter Dougherty Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline (was KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues) Balun? Is it new? What kind? You have pretty much eliminated the KPA1500 with this test. This sounds like a balun toroid heating up and causing problems. You will see perfect conditions at low power, and the AA230 will also show things in great shape. They are not stressing the system. But 1500 watts sure will. Talk a better look at the antenna system. And the balun. Open it up if possible. And, again describe, in detail the antenna system. There is something there to be found. 73! Jack, W6FB > On May 31, 2020, at 6:29 PM, Peter Dougherty wrote: > > Many here suggested that it was most likely a feedline issue, and I > figured this was indeed a distinct possibility. > > So this afternoon I replaced the feedline. I now have about 80 feet of > brand new LMR-400, new 83-SP1 connectors (and an Amphenol adaptor at > the balun since I don't have any type-N connectors here). The AA-230 > ZOOM analyzer shows about 1.2:1 at 50.313, with resonance just below > the band. I'll fix that tomorrow, but 1.2 or 1.3:1 should be nothing to the KPA. > > The TDR screen looks very clean, just a tiny bump where the feedline > goes through the (new) bulkhead connector to get into the house. See: > https://www.dropbox.com/s/izcwvece7nt5f42/2020-05-31%2019.32.44.jpg?dl > =0 > > The SWR chart between 50.000 and 50.500: > https://www.dropbox.com/s/y2xh4l1lihy2ujr/2020-05-31%2021.23.29.jpg?dl > =0 > > Again, I know the antenna is resonant a bit low, but this should NOT > be a factor. So here's what's now going on. > > 1) Into a Cantenna dummy load, with 25W of drive from the M3s, the > KPA-1500 is delivering 1075W and showing 1.4:1. No problem delivering > power and no faults. > > 2) With input power increased, 35W of K3s drive gives 1375W at 1.5 > into the Cantenna. Again, no problem delivering power to the purely resistive load. > Why a 1.5:1, I don't know, but fine, whatever. I can TX for 15-20 > second periods without issue. > > 3) When I switch over to the live antenna, with25 Watts of drive from > the K3s into the actual antenna and the amp faults out instantly in > bypass. When the amplifier is in bypass and the tuner is in bypass, > and when the K3s is delivering about 90W in FT8 mode, the front panel > on the KPA-1500 says the SWR is 1.9:1. When I press the TUNE button on > the radio, it's showing an SWR of 1.4:1. > > 4) Amp in bypass, tuner inline, press TUNE button on the K3s and the > front panel of the KPA-1500 is showing a perfect 1.0:1 match. It > SHOULD work fine like this, right? > > 5) Pressing ONLY the OPER/STBY button to put the amp in operate (KPA > tuner in and untouched since step 4), the amp SOMETIMES delivers > power, sometimes faults out, shows an SWR of 1.7:1. Pressing the > OPER/STBY button again to use only exciter power, and touching NOTHING > ELSE, it's back to 1.1:1 with 90W of K3s drive. > > 6) There is basically no rhyme or reason why this is happening and > it's > *somewhat* repeatable. The incredibly frustrating part is if I see a > needed station come up, I'll flick the amp's tuner in line and it says it's tuned. > Once WSJT-X keys the radio, 90 out of 100 times the amp will > hard-fault. If it doesn't fault on the first transmission, it > absolutely WILL on the second transmission. > > So I'm now at a complete loss to understand what's going on here. Amp > is fine into a resistive load. Brand-new antenna, brand new LMR-400 > feedline, brand new connectors, the KPA-1500 is faulting out the same > as it did on the > 10+ year old 6M5 with a patchwork of feedlines. I can't see how this > 10+ is > anything but a problem in the KPA-1500 (S/N 0398). > > - pjd > > -Original Message- > From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net > On Behalf Of Jim Brown > Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2020 8:22 PM > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues > > On 5/31/2020 9:54 AM, Jim Miller wrote: >> Have you vetted your feedline at 1500w? Many times something might be >> good at low power and fail at 1500. > > This is good advice. Guys who d
Re: [Elecraft] NOT the feedline (was KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues)
Many here suggested that it was most likely a feedline issue, and I figured this was indeed a distinct possibility. So this afternoon I replaced the feedline. I now have about 80 feet of brand new LMR-400, new 83-SP1 connectors (and an Amphenol adaptor at the balun since I don't have any type-N connectors here). The AA-230 ZOOM analyzer shows about 1.2:1 at 50.313, with resonance just below the band. I'll fix that tomorrow, but 1.2 or 1.3:1 should be nothing to the KPA. The TDR screen looks very clean, just a tiny bump where the feedline goes through the (new) bulkhead connector to get into the house. See: https://www.dropbox.com/s/izcwvece7nt5f42/2020-05-31%2019.32.44.jpg?dl=0 The SWR chart between 50.000 and 50.500: https://www.dropbox.com/s/y2xh4l1lihy2ujr/2020-05-31%2021.23.29.jpg?dl=0 Again, I know the antenna is resonant a bit low, but this should NOT be a factor. So here's what's now going on. 1) Into a Cantenna dummy load, with 25W of drive from the M3s, the KPA-1500 is delivering 1075W and showing 1.4:1. No problem delivering power and no faults. 2) With input power increased, 35W of K3s drive gives 1375W at 1.5 into the Cantenna. Again, no problem delivering power to the purely resistive load. Why a 1.5:1, I don't know, but fine, whatever. I can TX for 15-20 second periods without issue. 3) When I switch over to the live antenna, with25 Watts of drive from the K3s into the actual antenna and the amp faults out instantly in bypass. When the amplifier is in bypass and the tuner is in bypass, and when the K3s is delivering about 90W in FT8 mode, the front panel on the KPA-1500 says the SWR is 1.9:1. When I press the TUNE button on the radio, it's showing an SWR of 1.4:1. 4) Amp in bypass, tuner inline, press TUNE button on the K3s and the front panel of the KPA-1500 is showing a perfect 1.0:1 match. It SHOULD work fine like this, right? 5) Pressing ONLY the OPER/STBY button to put the amp in operate (KPA tuner in and untouched since step 4), the amp SOMETIMES delivers power, sometimes faults out, shows an SWR of 1.7:1. Pressing the OPER/STBY button again to use only exciter power, and touching NOTHING ELSE, it's back to 1.1:1 with 90W of K3s drive. 6) There is basically no rhyme or reason why this is happening and it's *somewhat* repeatable. The incredibly frustrating part is if I see a needed station come up, I'll flick the amp's tuner in line and it says it's tuned. Once WSJT-X keys the radio, 90 out of 100 times the amp will hard-fault. If it doesn't fault on the first transmission, it absolutely WILL on the second transmission. So I'm now at a complete loss to understand what's going on here. Amp is fine into a resistive load. Brand-new antenna, brand new LMR-400 feedline, brand new connectors, the KPA-1500 is faulting out the same as it did on the 10+ year old 6M5 with a patchwork of feedlines. I can't see how this is anything but a problem in the KPA-1500 (S/N 0398). - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Jim Brown Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2020 8:22 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues On 5/31/2020 9:54 AM, Jim Miller wrote: > Have you vetted your feedline at 1500w? Many times something might be > good at low power and fail at 1500. This is good advice. Guys who do lots of portable setup say to always check the coax first, which mostly means check for a connector that's bad or badly installed. In general, if it doesn't say Amphenol or isn't stamped with a MIL spec number, it's very likely to be poor quality. This includes barrels, adapters, etc. Also make sure that every connector is" wrench tight." The advice to run it straight to a dummy load is right on -- if you have one big enough. :) 73, Jim K9YC __ 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 li...@w2irt.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] KPA-1500 faulting on 6m; SWR issues
Hi all (and sorry about the blank post-I don't know what happened there). I am experiencing a continuing and repeatable problem with my KPA-1500 on 6m. With the amp in bypass I am able to operate normally with my K3s, but the amp's meter is showing a 1.8 to 2:1 SWR on that band, despite measurements on an AA-230 analyzer and the SWR meter on the K3s itself showing it virtually flat (no more than 1.2:1). Once the amp is placed set to operate it's still showing SWR measurements of 1.8:1 to 2.1:1 consistently when delivering power. If the tuner is bypassed I can't run more than about 600W out before it faults. If I put the tuner in and click it to tune, it will deliver power just fine at 1200 or 1300 Watts for ONE FT8 transmit cycle. When it goes to transmit again it hard-faults with too much reflected power. Using 100W straight from the K3s there is no issue whatsoever, but *any* level of power from the KPA is liable to trip the excess reflected power sensor on the amp. At first I thought I had an antenna problem, but yesterday I put up a brand new 6m LFA and it's doing the same thing. This coming week I plan to replace the feedline with LMR-400--it's got a combination of 3/8" hardline and RG-213 at the moment. Any thoughts on what might be going on here? Is there a known-issue on 6m with the KPA? - 73 and Good DX Peter, W2IRT President, North Jersey DX Association DXCC Card Checker Letter O Manager, ARRL Incoming 2nd District QSL bureau __ 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] KPA-1500 hard faulting on 6m
__ 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] Field Day
Class D and E are home stations. They certainly began setting up long before the Friday of FD weekend. They don’t get the extra hours to operate. Peter W0LLN On Mon, May 25, 2020 at 9:08 AM Andy Durbin wrote: > The field day rules need to be reviewed and corrected, not just for > allowed power sources. > > Take this for example - > > "3. Date and Time Period: Field Day 2020 will be held June 27-28. Field > Day is ALWAYS the fourth full weekend, beginning at 1800 UTC Saturday and > ending at 2059 UTC Sunday. > 3.1. Class A and B (see below) stations that do not begin setting up > until 1800 UTC on Saturday may operate the entire 27-hour Field Day period. > 3.2. Stations who begin setting up before 1800 UTC Saturday may work only > 24 consecutive hours, commencing when on-the-air operations begin. > 3.3. No class A or B station may begin its set-up earlier than UTC > on the Friday (Thursday afternoon or evening local time) preceding the > Field Day period. Cumulative set-up time shall not exceed a total of 24 > hours." > > This rule set allows a 1E station to operate for almost 27 hours. The > contest start and end times are defined in rule 3.0. None of the > subordinate rules say that a 1E station that performs all setting up after > 1800 UTC Saturday is not allowed to operate for the full contest period. > > It takes me less than 1 hour to convert from mains power to running the > entire station on a generator. The rules, as published, allow me to > connect and start the generator after 1800 UTC Saturday and continue > operating until 2059 UTC Sunday. > > ARRL representatives have told me that 1E stations may operate only 24 > hours but the rules don't say that. > > 73, > Andy, k3wyc > > __ > 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 peter.wol...@gmail.com > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 power supply fan noise
Giving her anything hot pink will be met with words not fit for family newsgroups, and possibly the forced removal of a part or parts that’s very near and dear to me. Besides, the racket bugs the heck out of me, too. And I won’t even get into the amp noise when I’m running FT8 on 6, but that’s to be expected, alas. - pjd From: Morgan Bailey Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 2:11 PM To: Peter Dougherty Cc: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 power supply fan noise Head to walmart and buy a box of cheap hot pink foam ear plugs that have 30 db noise reduction. Or have her wear earbuds to a new ipod listen to music...sign her up for pandora. LOL Vy 73, Morgan NJ8M On Sat, May 23, 2020 at 9:35 AM Peter Dougherty mailto:li...@w2irt.net> > wrote: Is there any way to power off the fans (or lower their RPM) on the PSU if the amp is in standby mode? I would like to keep my rig on 6m throughout the day during the Es season. The problem is my 6m antenna is on antenna port 2 on the KPA, which requires the amp to be powered up. I only need to TX when a new grid pops up, but I do like to monitor the band during the day while I'm working. My XYL is working from home, and is in the same room for about 9 or 10 hours a day, and the noise after 10 minutes was too much for her. Any suggestions? Please-n-thanks. - 73 and Good DX Peter, W2IRT President, North Jersey DX Association DXCC Card Checker Letter O Manager, ARRL Incoming 2nd District QSL bureau __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net <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 mbaileyc...@gmail.com <mailto:mbaileyc...@gmail.com> __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 power supply fan noise
Giving her anything hot pink will be met with words not fit for family newsgroups, and possibly the forced removal of a part or parts that’s very near and dear to me. Besides, the racket bugs the heck out of me, too. And I won’t even get into the amp noise when I’m running FT8 on 6, but that’s to be expected, alas. - pjd From: Morgan Bailey Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 2:11 PM To: Peter Dougherty Cc: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 power supply fan noise Head to walmart and buy a box of cheap hot pink foam ear plugs that have 30 db noise reduction. Or have her wear earbuds to a new ipod listen to music...sign her up for pandora. LOL Vy 73, Morgan NJ8M On Sat, May 23, 2020 at 9:35 AM Peter Dougherty mailto:li...@w2irt.net> > wrote: Is there any way to power off the fans (or lower their RPM) on the PSU if the amp is in standby mode? I would like to keep my rig on 6m throughout the day during the Es season. The problem is my 6m antenna is on antenna port 2 on the KPA, which requires the amp to be powered up. I only need to TX when a new grid pops up, but I do like to monitor the band during the day while I'm working. My XYL is working from home, and is in the same room for about 9 or 10 hours a day, and the noise after 10 minutes was too much for her. Any suggestions? Please-n-thanks. - 73 and Good DX Peter, W2IRT President, North Jersey DX Association DXCC Card Checker Letter O Manager, ARRL Incoming 2nd District QSL bureau __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net <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 mbaileyc...@gmail.com <mailto:mbaileyc...@gmail.com> __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] ferrites for subwoofer: before or after isolation transformers?
I'm experiencing something similar. I have my sub-2 output connected to bass shakers on my sofa, and the wiring picks up an incredible amount of RF on 20. As my wife found out when she was taking a nap in the room while I was contesting. As soon as I switched to 20 she was getting rumbled to the pattern of CQ TEST. That was an interesting conversation, and something I will look at this summer. As for your low frequencies getting into your left and right main, why not switch them to "small" in the AVR menu, and let the sub do all the work below 80 Hz? I have had some luck putting ferrites just before the speaker terminals in the past. I sadly cut all my speaker cable to length so there's no room to wind around a core, so these will need to be clamp-ons for me. I get into my center and surrounds on 40 and 20. Or I can tell my XYL to nap in the living room, since there's just the two of us in the house. - pjd -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Nicklas Johnson Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 12:38 PM To: elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] ferrites for subwoofer: before or after isolation transformers? The backstory as briefly as I can make it: I wanted to place my home theater subwoofer in the corner of our living room; doing so required running two speaker wires and a coaxial cable under the house and plugging the subwoofer into a different outlet than the AV receiver; this in turn resulted in ground-loop hum (because of a tiny difference in potential between the two outlets) which I worked around with a set of 1:1 low-frequency audio isolation transformers. The subwoofer is of a type that produces a signal based not only on the LFE channel, but also on the left and right speaker channels, thus the two speaker wires along with the coaxial cable. Now the subwoofer is picking up common mode noise on 20m, which isn't terribly surprising, as this happens a good bit with consumer-grade electronics. I'm hoping to mitigate this with some substantial ferrite clamps for all three connections and as many turns as I can get through them. My hunch is that the best place in the path to clamp them on will be immediately before the connection to the speaker itself, on the speaker side of the isolation transformer, but I wanted to get the opinions of folks who have solved this problem in the past to see if there's any reason the ferrites should come before the isolation transformers. Thoughts? Nick -- *N6OL* Saying something doesn't make it true. Belief in something doesn't make it real. And if you have to lie to support a position, that position is not worth supporting. __ 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 li...@w2irt.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
