Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 usage
Hi Paul, Glad the TX Gain calibration fixed the ATU issue. Always thankful for the 'no soldering/de-soldering fixes required!' 73, Mike, K8CN __ 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 KAT3 usage
Mike Thanks a lot. Your point out the TX power control made me think. So I redid the TX Gain Calibration and now all is well! I suspect I might have set the power to either 5w or 50w and hit the XMIT button.. 73 Paul M1CNK > Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:27:47 + > From: Michael Carter > To: Elecraft Reflector Reflector > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 usage > Message-ID: > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hi Paul, > > I would first check that the KAT3 is still enabled. > Use the CONFIG menu to scroll through until > you see the KAT3 status. > > I find sometimes that if my finger lingers too > long on the ATU TUNE button, it causes the > ATU to go into BYPASS mode, i.e. the ATU is > not inline. It should show BYPASS briefly > if you attempt ATU TUNE and the ATU > is bypassed. > > As frequent prior threads on this and > other Elecraft forums have emphasized, > do NOT press the XMIT button with > the transmit power control set at ** exactly ** > 5 watts or 50 watts - this will initiate a > TX Gain calibration that you probably don't > intend to launch. > > 73, > Mike, K8CN > > > > > -- > > Message: 15 > Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2023 16:23:45 -0700 > From: Wes > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: Wiring A Continent : The U.S. > TranscontinentalTelegraph Line > Message-ID: <79bbe6b8-2dba-478d-afb2-3075e711a...@triconet.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed > > I also recommend this: > https://www.nps.gov/pisp/planyourvisit/telegraph-room.htm > > I have visited the place. To my knowledge the first op and I are unrelated. > > Wes? N7WS > > > On 11/21/2023 1:43 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: >> I highly recommend this fascinating first-person account. You might want to >> skim over the parts about political infighting to get to descriptions of the >> route, procurement of poles, Indian encounters, and inclement weather. >> >> (And we thought Field Day setup was challenging.) >> >> http://www.telegraph-history.org/transcontinental-telegraph/index.html >> >> 73, >> Wayne >> N6KR >> >> > > -- > > Message: 16 > Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2023 20:34:06 -0700 > From: Alan Bloom > To: Elecraft Discussion List > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: Wiring A Continent : The U.S. > Transcontinental Telegraph Line > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed > > And the line was completed while the Civil War was raging.? Amazing! > > Alan N1AL > > > On 11/21/23 13:43, Wayne Burdick wrote: >> I highly recommend this fascinating first-person account. You might want to >> skim over the parts about political infighting to get to descriptions of the >> route, procurement of poles, Indian encounters, and inclement weather. >> >> (And we thought Field Day setup was challenging.) >> >> http://www.telegraph-history.org/transcontinental-telegraph/index.html >> >> 73, >> Wayne >> N6KR >> >> >> 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 a...@elecraft.com > > > > -- > > Message: 17 > Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2023 03:52:13 -0500 > From: Ramon Batista > To: Elecraft Reflector > Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft KX3 And PX3 Package De WD4X. > Message-ID: > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > *For Sale An Elecraft KX3-F & PX3-F Combo. Both Units Are In Excellent And > Like New Cosmetic And Operational Conditions. The Sale Include The AC-120V > To 13.8v Power Supply, The DC Power Cables For Each Unit, The Interconnect > Cables For KX3 To P3, The 90 Degree BNC To SO-239 Adapter, The MH3 Hand > Microphone, The NiMH Batteries Set, The SMA To SO-239 Cable For 2 Meters > Operations, The Nifty Stand With Clamps For Each Unit, The BNC-BP M-Binding > Posts, The Face Protectors For Each Unit And The Side Handles For PX3And > The Original Elecraft Carrying Case Where Both Units Fit. KX3 & PX3 Are > Both Up To Date With The Latest Firmware. Both Units Will Be Shipped In The > Original Shipping Boxes With Both User Manuals, The G
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 usage
Hi Paul, I would first check that the KAT3 is still enabled. Use the CONFIG menu to scroll through until you see the KAT3 status. I find sometimes that if my finger lingers too long on the ATU TUNE button, it causes the ATU to go into BYPASS mode, i.e. the ATU is not inline. It should show BYPASS briefly if you attempt ATU TUNE and the ATU is bypassed. As frequent prior threads on this and other Elecraft forums have emphasized, do NOT press the XMIT button with the transmit power control set at ** exactly ** 5 watts or 50 watts - this will initiate a TX Gain calibration that you probably don't intend to launch. 73, Mike, K8CN __ 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 KAT3 usage
If I remember correctly, when an ATU tune up is requested from the front panel of a K3 equipped with a KAT3, once the tune up is completed, the final SWR is flashed to the screen? The reason I ask is that my K3 seems to have stopped doing this - even with a dummy load connected. If I hold down the xmit button for the Tune function, then the SWR is displayed along with the power output. So two questions a) Am I misremembering the behaviour of the ATU tune up? b) If not, any suggestions as to what to look for to correct it? 73 Paul M1CNK __ 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] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
This thread saved me. I thought my k3 antenna tuner had malfunctioned on 6 m, but luckily it was only because it was in Split (Data mode). The erratic behavior of the ATU and the SWR are quite confusing though as they tell you nothing about this cause. - Sverre, LA3ZA K2 #2198, K3 #3391, LA3ZA Blog: http://la3za.blogspot.com, LA3ZA Unofficial Guide to K2 modifications: http://la3za.blogspot.com/p/la3za-unofficial-guide-to-elecraft-k2.html -- 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
[Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
Tune before you run wsjt. The ATU I think forces the VFO into CW mode. Split in a DATA Mode is not allowed if one VFO is not in same DATA Mode. Sent from my iPhone ...nr4c. bill --- It makes me think it is a firmware glitch because this only happens on 6 meters. If I create the exact same circumstances on 160m through 10m, it doesn't happen. WSJT-X Split mode and Tune work fine everywhere except 6m. -- Thank you! David Needham, AA4VT (formerly K4AJA and K8AJA) __ 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] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
Tune before you run wsjt. The ATU I think forces the VFO into CW mode. Split in a DATA Mode is not allowed if one VFO is not in same DATA Mode. Sent from my iPhone ...nr4c. bill > On Sep 10, 2020, at 12:57 PM, David Needham wrote: > > Bill, > > It looks like you have uncovered the same apparent firmware glitch I did. I > have verified a few friends have the same issue. It is very repeatable on > K3 and K3S's. > > I was using split mode for WSJT-X and when I would press Tune while in Data > Mode A to tune my KPA-1500, I get zero power output. If I take the rig out > of Split mode, it works just fine. Put it back Split mode, still works > fine. Turn the rig off and on again, zero power out again. > > My solution was also to run WSJT-X in Fake It mode, but I really would > prefer to be able to use Split mode. Maybe one day one of the firmware > updates will correct that. > > -- > Thank you! > David Needham, AA4VT (formerly K4AJA and K8AJA) > __ > 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...@widomaker.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] [K3] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
Bill, It looks like you have uncovered the same apparent firmware glitch I did. I have verified a few friends have the same issue. It is very repeatable on K3 and K3S's. I was using split mode for WSJT-X and when I would press Tune while in Data Mode A to tune my KPA-1500, I get zero power output. If I take the rig out of Split mode, it works just fine. Put it back Split mode, still works fine. Turn the rig off and on again, zero power out again. My solution was also to run WSJT-X in Fake It mode, but I really would prefer to be able to use Split mode. Maybe one day one of the firmware updates will correct that. -- Thank you! David Needham, AA4VT (formerly K4AJA and K8AJA) __ 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] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
The K3 will allow Split in Data modes as well. But both VFOs must be in same Mode/sub mode first. I Sent from my iPhone ...nr4c. bill > On Sep 7, 2020, at 9:52 AM, w4sc wrote: > > Bill, > > The K3 only allows the “split” mode for SSB and/or CW to be enabled, at > least from panel. Trying to enable split in any other mode, the VFO B window > flashes “N/A”. You may have different indications / results if the split > command is sent via the CAT, and a mode other than CW or SSB is selected. > > Ben W4SC > > Sent from Mail 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 n...@widomaker.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] [K3] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
The K3 will allow Split in Data modes as well. But both VFOs must be in same Mode/sub mode first. Sent from my iPhone ...nr4c. bill > On Sep 7, 2020, at 9:52 AM, w4sc wrote: > > Bill, > > The K3 only allows the “split” mode for SSB and/or CW to be enabled, at > least from panel. Trying to enable split in any other mode, the VFO B window > flashes “N/A”. You may have different indications / results if the split > command is sent via the CAT, and a mode other than CW or SSB is selected. > > Ben W4SC > > Sent from Mail 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 n...@widomaker.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] [K3] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
No, that’s not it. The right is ALREADY in split mode when i attempt to use the auto-tune. You get the N/A flash if VFO A and B aren’t set to the same mode, other than SSB/CW. WSJT-X sets it up correctly, with both VFOs in DATA mode. > On Sep 7, 2020, at 9:50 AM, w4sc wrote: > > Bill, > > The K3 only allows the “split” mode for SSB and/or CW to be enabled, at > least from panel. Trying to enable split in any other mode, the VFO B window > flashes “N/A”. You may have different indications / results if the split > command is sent via the CAT, and a mode other than CW or SSB is selected. > > Ben W4SC > > Sent from Mail for Windows 10 Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: aa...@arrl.net Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 __ 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] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
The K3 allows split in data modes, but only provided both VFOs are already in data mode. The K3 will not allow cross-mode split between Data and CW/SSB. If you are seeing "SPL N/A" when you try to enable split with VFO A in a Data mode, what that tells me is that VFO B is in CW or SSB, not in Data mode. When VFO B is not already in the same mode as VFO A, tap A>B twice to transfer the VFO A mode into VFO B before pressing Split. 73, Rich VE3KI W4SC said: The K3 only allows the "split" mode for SSB and/or CW to be enabled, at least from \ panel. Trying to enable split in any other mode, the VFO B window flashes "N/A". \ You may have different indications / results if the split command is sent via the \ CAT, and a mode other than CW or SSB is selected. __ 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] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
Bill, The K3 only allows the “split” mode for SSB and/or CW to be enabled, at least from panel. Trying to enable split in any other mode, the VFO B window flashes “N/A”. You may have different indications / results if the split command is sent via the CAT, and a mode other than CW or SSB is selected. Ben W4SC Sent from Mail 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] [K3] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
This is a feature of WSJT-X. If you have the Split Operation selection set to “Rig”, WSJT-X will always use Split mode. It sets the transmit frequency higher or lower in 500 Hz increments. The main reason for this is to keep the generated audio in the middle of the SSB passband, but high enough to allow harmonics to be outside the passband. So, for example, if you select 400 Hz as your transmit frequency, WSJT-X will set the TX frequency 1.5 kHz lower, and then generate transmission tones around 1900 Hz. If you set the frequency to 2000 Hz, it will set the TX frequency 500 Hz higher, but the tone generated is about 1500 Hz. The net result is the same — the transmitted tones are always between 1500-1999 Hz. And even if you select a transmit frequency between 1500-1999 Hz, WSJT-X will always use split operation. (Although in this case, the RX and TX frequency will be identical) > On Sep 6, 2020, at 4:40 PM, wrote: > > Bill, > > Why are you running split in WSJT? The only time you actually need split is > when operating 2 different frequencies like working JA's on 160 when they > used to be required to transmit on 1908 KHz and we transmitted on 1840 kHZ > (they now can operate on 1840). Unless you are actually needing to receive on > one frequency and transmit on another, set the radio configuration to "Fake > It" instead of "split". That will keep your transmit frequency in the middle > of your transmit bandpass. There is no actual frequency change in WSJT > including DX expedition mode. > > GL > > Mike > K7PI > > -Original Message- > From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On > Behalf Of Bill Coleman > Sent: Sunday, September 6, 2020 13:08 > To: w4sc > Cc: Elecraft > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 not functioning on 6m > > OK, I figured this out, sort of. > > Every time I’ve had trouble with the KAT3 not tuning, the K3 has been in > split mode. > > By taking the K3 out of split mode, I’m able to turn on 6m correctly. > > Oddly, though, when I return to split mode, it still works. > > I’m not sure why I see this issue, but I’m glad I can work around it. > > Split mode is often configured due to the WSJT-X settings, depending on the > frequencies used. > >> On Sep 5, 2020, at 9:01 PM, w4sc wrote: >> >> Bill, >> >> I had an issue very similar. The “Automatic TXGain” procedure is performed >> at 52 MHz. I was using a 50 ohm load attached, and at 50.125 the KAT3 have >> trouble matching the load. Also it appears there is not enough power out in >> the lower part of the band for the SWR bridge to function. >> >> Part of the problem is I believe, the f/w switches the KPA3 ON at 8 watts >> instead of the usual 12……….. >> >> Performing a MANUAL TX Gain procedure on 6M may help. >> >> Here is link to post I made several weeks ago. >> >> https://www.mail-archive.com/elecraft@mailman.qth.net/msg241436.html >> >> 73 de Ben W4SC >> >> Sent from Mail for Windows 10 > > Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: aa...@arrl.net > Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com > Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" >-- Wilbur Wright, 1901 > > __ > 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 ex...@comcast.net > Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: aa...@arrl.net Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 __ 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] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
Bill, Why are you running split in WSJT? The only time you actually need split is when operating 2 different frequencies like working JA's on 160 when they used to be required to transmit on 1908 KHz and we transmitted on 1840 kHZ (they now can operate on 1840). Unless you are actually needing to receive on one frequency and transmit on another, set the radio configuration to "Fake It" instead of "split". That will keep your transmit frequency in the middle of your transmit bandpass. There is no actual frequency change in WSJT including DX expedition mode. GL Mike K7PI -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Bill Coleman Sent: Sunday, September 6, 2020 13:08 To: w4sc Cc: Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 not functioning on 6m OK, I figured this out, sort of. Every time I’ve had trouble with the KAT3 not tuning, the K3 has been in split mode. By taking the K3 out of split mode, I’m able to turn on 6m correctly. Oddly, though, when I return to split mode, it still works. I’m not sure why I see this issue, but I’m glad I can work around it. Split mode is often configured due to the WSJT-X settings, depending on the frequencies used. > On Sep 5, 2020, at 9:01 PM, w4sc wrote: > > Bill, > > I had an issue very similar. The “Automatic TXGain” procedure is performed > at 52 MHz. I was using a 50 ohm load attached, and at 50.125 the KAT3 have > trouble matching the load. Also it appears there is not enough power out in > the lower part of the band for the SWR bridge to function. > > Part of the problem is I believe, the f/w switches the KPA3 ON at 8 watts > instead of the usual 12……….. > > Performing a MANUAL TX Gain procedure on 6M may help. > > Here is link to post I made several weeks ago. > > https://www.mail-archive.com/elecraft@mailman.qth.net/msg241436.html > > 73 de Ben W4SC > > Sent from Mail for Windows 10 Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: aa...@arrl.net Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 __ 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 ex...@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] [K3] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
OK, I figured this out, sort of. Every time I’ve had trouble with the KAT3 not tuning, the K3 has been in split mode. By taking the K3 out of split mode, I’m able to turn on 6m correctly. Oddly, though, when I return to split mode, it still works. I’m not sure why I see this issue, but I’m glad I can work around it. Split mode is often configured due to the WSJT-X settings, depending on the frequencies used. > On Sep 5, 2020, at 9:01 PM, w4sc wrote: > > Bill, > > I had an issue very similar. The “Automatic TXGain” procedure is performed > at 52 MHz. I was using a 50 ohm load attached, and at 50.125 the KAT3 have > trouble matching the load. Also it appears there is not enough power out in > the lower part of the band for the SWR bridge to function. > > Part of the problem is I believe, the f/w switches the KPA3 ON at 8 watts > instead of the usual 12……….. > > Performing a MANUAL TX Gain procedure on 6M may help. > > Here is link to post I made several weeks ago. > > https://www.mail-archive.com/elecraft@mailman.qth.net/msg241436.html > > 73 de Ben W4SC > > Sent from Mail for Windows 10 Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: aa...@arrl.net Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 __ 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] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
Bill, I had an issue very similar. The “Automatic TXGain” procedure is performed at 52 MHz. I was using a 50 ohm load attached, and at 50.125 the KAT3 have trouble matching the load. Also it appears there is not enough power out in the lower part of the band for the SWR bridge to function. Part of the problem is I believe, the f/w switches the KPA3 ON at 8 watts instead of the usual 12……….. Performing a MANUAL TX Gain procedure on 6M may help. Here is link to post I made several weeks ago. https://www.mail-archive.com/elecraft@mailman.qth.net/msg241436.html 73 de Ben W4SC Sent from Mail 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] [K3] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
Update on this - this problem with the KAT3 ATU not working on 6m appears to be intermittent. Sometimes it will tune, sometimes it won’t. Weird. > On May 17, 2020, at 6:38 PM, Bill Coleman wrote: > > I upgraded my K3 to include the new KSYN3A back in November. (I have the > KRX3, so I installed two of them) > > Ever since then, it seems like the Antenna Tuner isn’t doing it’s thing on > 6m. It works fine on the other bands. > > The K3 doesn’t really show any other problems. > > Here’s the symptoms: > > - ATU not in bypass > - ANT1 or ANT2 - doesn’t matter. > - Press ATU Tune > - Unit makes noises like it is working on a match, but the entire time, the > display only shows “- -“ in the right hand side of the display — at no time > does it show an SWR. > - Eventually, unit gives up trying to find a match > > What’s odd is this: > > - Press Tune, unit outputs power, but no SWR is displayed in the right hand > side of the display, only “- -“. > > - However, if I transmit, I do see an SWR indication in the meter face, and > the SWR seems accurate, depending on the antenna I choose. > > I’m running firmware revision 5.67/2.88 — which is the latest, I believe. > > Any ideas? > > Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: aa...@arrl.net > Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com > Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" >-- Wilbur Wright, 1901 > > __ > 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 aa...@arrl.net Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: aa...@arrl.net Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 __ 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] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
Bill Upgrading to KSYN3A, you should run the High Power TXGAIN Calibration according to the installation instructions. Actually, I had to run the WATTMETER, and BOTH the LP (5W) and HP (50W) calibrations to “cure” the same issue you are observing. Installing the KSYN3A in a K3 results in lower output on 6M when the KPA3 is active, i.e. the requested power is greater than 12W. When the power requested is less than 12W, the KPA3 is inactive (bypassed), the output power is within measuremt accuracy on an external wattmeter to what is requested by the K3 power setting control. When the power requested is greater than 12 W, i.e. 100W for example, what I have observed is at 52.000MHz the external wattmeter reads 85W, and at 50.500MHz only 63W is realized. There is little difference in the output power measured in each case with/without KAT3 tuner “bypassed” or “enabled and matched” at the operating frequency’s outlined above. It appears that this anomaly occurs only on 6M, I don’t know if there is a solution or fix for the above. K3 F/W 5.67 Load 100W 30Db attenuator Wattmeter HP736 with 8481 power sensor and Bird with appropriate elements. Ben W4SC Sent from Mail 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
[Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 not functioning on 6m
I upgraded my K3 to include the new KSYN3A back in November. (I have the KRX3, so I installed two of them) Ever since then, it seems like the Antenna Tuner isn’t doing it’s thing on 6m. It works fine on the other bands. The K3 doesn’t really show any other problems. Here’s the symptoms: - ATU not in bypass - ANT1 or ANT2 - doesn’t matter. - Press ATU Tune - Unit makes noises like it is working on a match, but the entire time, the display only shows “- -“ in the right hand side of the display — at no time does it show an SWR. - Eventually, unit gives up trying to find a match What’s odd is this: - Press Tune, unit outputs power, but no SWR is displayed in the right hand side of the display, only “- -“. - However, if I transmit, I do see an SWR indication in the meter face, and the SWR seems accurate, depending on the antenna I choose. I’m running firmware revision 5.67/2.88 — which is the latest, I believe. Any ideas? Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: aa...@arrl.net Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 __ 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 KAT3 Fixed
Last evening, after some advice from WB9CIF, I did a little more testing and found that the KAT3 would do nothing regardless of Antenna port or what actual antenna was selected. I went into Config and told the K3 there was no tuner. Cycled the rig and then told the K3 that the tuner was installed and set to Auto. Now everything works as it should. Glad that's resolved and it wasn't the antenna on the tower in a Michigan upcoming winter. Larry, KN8N __ 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 KAT3
Larry, Are you sure you didn't have ANT2 selected when you really should have been on ANT1? Or the other way around. When you disabled the KAT3 I think it defaults to ANT1. I've had this happen before. All bands work but one. The one that doesn't work has the wrong antenna output selected. Now how did it get switched from ANT1 to ANT2? Who knows for sure, but I was probably intending to operate RX ANT button or some other function and hit the ANT button by mistake. Mark, WB9CIF -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Larry Boekeloo Sent: Friday, November 8, 2019 00:02 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 My K3 seemed to develop a problem on 20 meters this evening. Trying to work Marquesas this evening on 20 cw the K3 would not transmit and basically no receive. I checked every other band and all worked as usual. The moment the radio went into transmit, I received Hi SWR on the screen with or without the antenna tuner I then reloaded all of the software and still nothing. I tried to force the tuner into auto tune by selecting my 160 meter dipole for 20 meters and still nothing. I finally went into the Config menu and disabled the KAT3. All now works. I never use the KAT3 anymore since I have the KAT500 and KPA500. Has anyone else had the KAT3 fail on 20 or do I need to open the rig up and reseat all of the contacts? Thoughts? Larry, KN8N __ 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 markmus...@sbcglobal.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] K3 KAT3
My K3 seemed to develop a problem on 20 meters this evening. Trying to work Marquesas this evening on 20 cw the K3 would not transmit and basically no receive. I checked every other band and all worked as usual. The moment the radio went into transmit, I received Hi SWR on the screen with or without the antenna tuner I then reloaded all of the software and still nothing. I tried to force the tuner into auto tune by selecting my 160 meter dipole for 20 meters and still nothing. I finally went into the Config menu and disabled the KAT3. All now works. I never use the KAT3 anymore since I have the KAT500 and KPA500. Has anyone else had the KAT3 fail on 20 or do I need to open the rig up and reseat all of the contacts? Thoughts? Larry, KN8N __ 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 KAT3 High SWR Issue Solved
Here is the history on the 8.215 trap on the KAT3 KANT3 boards. Overview; There is an 8.215 trap on the RF board, the trap on the KAT/KANT3 boards was an additional trap that was later found to be way overkill. On the KAT3 ATU, it is on the antenna side of the tuner, so it is subject to high SWR and can heat and burn. On the KANT3 you cannot cannot run with high SWR or the radio will back off, so not a problem on these boards. Early ATUs had a small coil L10 and single pink/brown capacitor C10. The cap can fail internally invisibly or catastrophically! The coil can get burnt. We went to a beefier coil and 2 small blue capacitors around 2010. It is rare, but these beefier components can also fail. _**In repairs,_ if it has the older weak components, we just pull the coil and insert jumper (no need to pull the capacitor as it is effectively now shorted). If it has the newer beefier components, we leave it alone unless burnt. The new KAT3"A" does not even have this trap, it came out with the K3"S". Keith WE6R __ 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 KAT3 High SWR Issue Solved
Mark, I am not certain when they stopped installing the trap in the KAT3, but I know it is not in the KAT3A. If you pull your KAT3 out for any reason, eliminate the trap. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/23/2019 2:07 PM, Mark Musick wrote: Don, Is the trap in all KAT3s up through those installed in K3s with 9000 or just the early K3s below some serial number? Mark, WB9CIF -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2019 18:48 To: K9MA ; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 High SWR Issue Solved Scott, It was added to the initial K3s, but later found not to be necessary, and if the trap broke down, it would cause trouble. So the KAR3A does not have it. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/23/2019 10:49 AM, K9MA wrote: On 1/23/2019 09:41, Ed G wrote: A fair amount of digging in the email archives found a couple posts which touched on an issue with the 8.215 MHz trap (C10 and L10) on the KAT3 tuner board. Although my older K3 doesn't seem to have a problem, I wonder why that trap was not required in the KAT3A. It was there, presumably to improve IF rejection, so I'd expect removing it without some other change to the K3 would be unwise. __ 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 markmus...@outlook.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] K3 KAT3 High SWR Issue Solved
Don, Is the trap in all KAT3s up through those installed in K3s with 9000 or just the early K3s below some serial number? Mark, WB9CIF -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2019 18:48 To: K9MA ; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 High SWR Issue Solved Scott, It was added to the initial K3s, but later found not to be necessary, and if the trap broke down, it would cause trouble. So the KAR3A does not have it. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/23/2019 10:49 AM, K9MA wrote: > On 1/23/2019 09:41, Ed G wrote: >> A fair amount of digging in the email archives found a couple posts >> which touched on an issue with the 8.215 MHz trap (C10 and L10) on >> the >> KAT3 tuner board. > > Although my older K3 doesn't seem to have a problem, I wonder why that > trap was not required in the KAT3A. It was there, presumably to > improve IF rejection, so I'd expect removing it without some other > change to the > K3 would be unwise. > __ 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 markmus...@outlook.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] K3 KAT3 High SWR Issue Solved
Scott, It was added to the initial K3s, but later found not to be necessary, and if the trap broke down, it would cause trouble. So the KAR3A does not have it. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/23/2019 10:49 AM, K9MA wrote: On 1/23/2019 09:41, Ed G wrote: A fair amount of digging in the email archives found a couple posts which touched on an issue with the 8.215 MHz trap (C10 and L10) on the KAT3 tuner board. Although my older K3 doesn't seem to have a problem, I wonder why that trap was not required in the KAT3A. It was there, presumably to improve IF rejection, so I'd expect removing it without some other change to the K3 would be unwise. __ 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 KAT3 High SWR Issue Solved
On 1/23/2019 09:41, Ed G wrote: A fair amount of digging in the email archives found a couple posts which touched on an issue with the 8.215 MHz trap (C10 and L10) on the KAT3 tuner board. Although my older K3 doesn't seem to have a problem, I wonder why that trap was not required in the KAT3A. It was there, presumably to improve IF rejection, so I'd expect removing it without some other change to the K3 would be unwise. 73, Scott K9MA -- Scott K9MA k...@sdellington.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 arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] K3 KAT3 High SWR Issue Solved
I recently posted about a K3 40 meter SWR anomaly, where the K3 SWR reading on the front panel meter tended to increase as I tuned up higher in the band. I first observed the problem while using my Steppir yagi, which retunes itself so that I should have seen a low SWR across the entire 40 meter band. I saw a 3:1 SWR on the K3 meter at the high end of 40 meters, while at the same time I was reading a much lower SWR on my inline LP-100A. Further investigation showed that this situation also occurred when transmitting into a known-good dummy load. I was seeing about 1.1:1 at 7.001 MHz, and this rose to 3:1 at 7.299 MHz. When the high SWR was being sensed by the K3, output power was also being folded back. For example, I would have about 36 watts output when the K3 was set to 50 watts at 7.299 MHz. This anomaly also affected 40 meter operation with the KPA1500, as I observed what appeared to be power overshoot and experienced the need to frequently readjust drive power on 40 meters. A fair amount of digging in the email archives found a couple posts which touched on an issue with the 8.215 MHz trap (C10 and L10) on the KAT3 tuner board. Keith WE6R at Elecraft then suggested removing C10 and L10, and adding a shorting wire in place of L10. This mod does indeed appear to fix the false SWR issue – at least it did in my K3. I now have flat 1.1:1 SWR readings into a dummy load on 40 meters at all power levels. The trap is not included in the design of the KAT3A, so K3S rigs with the KAT3A should not see this SWR problem. Any K3 users who have retrofitted the KAT3A tuner into their K3 should not see this anomaly. The problematic trap, from comments by Keith, may be due to some lots of capacitors which for reasons unknown to me have a high failure rate. It may be prudent for K3 owners with the KAT3 tuner board (S/Ns under 10,000 or vicinity) to check SWR readings on 40 meters using a dummy load to ascertain whether they need to apply the KAT3 trap fix. How to check your K3: Although I do not know how many KAT3 tuners are affected by the trap issue, I do feel it is the kind of problem that some users may have but just have not noticed. It is fairly easy to check for; just connect the K3 to a dummy load and observe the SWR as shown on the K3 meter at several random frequencies across the 40 meter band. Of course (assuming a stable 50 ohm dummy load) you should see a fairly flat 1:1 or near to it. But if the SWR rises as you approach 7.3 MHz, and you are using the older KAT3 tuner board, you most likely have the trap problem. Upon visual inspection, you may see evidence of burning on the trap components. Although my trap components looked fine, I apparently had some internal failure in C10. The faulty trap may also exist in the older KANT3 module (the trap parts would have different part designations) but I don’t have a KANT3 and have not researched this enough to comment further. Trap fix: As Keith suggested, remove C10 and L10 on the KAT3 board, and install a jumper where L10 was. I cut out C10, and also cut the leads on L10 while leaving enough length to strip some enamel coating and solder the leads together, thereby creating the jumper. To remove the KAT3 board, use proper wrist strap procedures. First remove the K3 top cover and one rear panel corner screw near the ANT connectors on the rear panel, and unplug the coax from ANT1 and ANT 2 connectors going to the KAT3 board. The KAT3 board can then be carefully pulled out for the trap mod. I did not have to remove the subreceiver or the K3 side panel. Results: For me, I now have a flat SWR reading across the 40 meter band when using the K3 internal SWR meter. Power output is now stable and fixed with no foldback, and I am not experiencing any KPA1500 drive faults. Thanks to Keith at Elecraft for his assistance on this issue. Please correct me Keith if I have not documented this issue accurately. --Ed, N3CW-- Sent from Mail for Windows 10 --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus __ 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 KAT3 vs K2 KAT100
Good morning Dick, thanks for the info and I am already pushing the tune button for the second time to fine tune things. I have also received an email suggesting I reload the firmware again seems this ham had the same trouble and the reload seem to fix it. Thanks again for taking the time to get back to me. Mike VE3WDM -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-KAT3-vs-K2-KAT100-tp7451003p7455578.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at 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
[Elecraft] K3 KAT3 vs K2 KAT100
Good evening to all, I have both the K3 and K2 the K3 has the KAT3 tuner and the K2 has the KAT100 external and KAT2 internal tuners. My antenna is the Alpha Delta DX-EE antenna that is mounted in my attic. Why is it the K2 antenna tuners (KAT100 and KAT2) can get me a 1:1 SWR on 40m but the K3's KAT3 only gets me down to 1:6? With the K3 I have re-tuned after the first tune so it can fine tune things but still it's 1:6 and I have erased the memory tune from the K3 to start fresh. I have manually remove the coax from the K2 and reconnected it to the K3 and tried the tuner but am only able to get 1:6 SWR?? Any ideas! Mike VE3WDM __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 vs K2 KAT100
There's a paragraph in the K3 Owner's manual, page 22, that may or may not help: Tapping ATU TUNE a second time within 5 seconds starts a more extensive match search. The ATU can even be manually tuned if desired. Refer to CONFIG:KAT3 for details. 73 de Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike Weir Sent: Monday, April 09, 2012 10:51 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 vs K2 KAT100 Good evening to all, I have both the K3 and K2 the K3 has the KAT3 tuner and the K2 has the KAT100 external and KAT2 internal tuners. My antenna is the Alpha Delta DX-EE antenna that is mounted in my attic. Why is it the K2 antenna tuners (KAT100 and KAT2) can get me a 1:1 SWR on 40m but the K3's KAT3 only gets me down to 1:6? With the K3 I have re-tuned after the first tune so it can fine tune things but still it's 1:6 and I have erased the memory tune from the K3 to start fresh. I have manually remove the coax from the K2 and reconnected it to the K3 and tried the tuner but am only able to get 1:6 SWR?? Any ideas! Mike VE3WDM __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 algorithms?
I am puzzled by how my KAT3 is working. (FW 4.39/2.73) Just now, I was chasing some DX on 20m. I was listening on 14.020 with split up to 14.022.5. I called once and noticed the SWR was up around 3:1. That's ok, but I wanted to get it down a bit, so I killed split, moved VFO A down to a clear frequency near 14.018 or so, and hit ATU TUNE, which produced an SWR of 1.0:1 at 5w. Then I used my spotting program (DXLabs) to put me back on 14.020 split 14.022.5 and called again. SWR was back at 3:1. I repeated the process and got the same results again. So then I went up to 14.023 with VFO A and did he ATU TUNE, and all was well with the SWR at 1.0:1 transmitting on 14.022.5. So then, using the TUNE button, I check the SWR back down at 14.018 and it was 1.2:1. So, why was the original ATU TUNE at 14.018 not good enough at 14.022.5? After going through the tuning process at 14.023, I can no longer repeat the original process. everything in the vicinity of 14.020 +/- 5kHz is 1.2:1 or less. Is there a description of the KAT3 algorithm somewhere? Also, I've wondered how the ATU memories are allocated across bands, and how many there are. 73, Randy, KS4L __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 algorithms?
1.2:1. So, why was the original ATU TUNE at 14.018 not good enough at 14.022.5? My guess: the ATU memory transition is at 20Khz steps. I have wondered where they were. You may be able to repeat the process if you clear out the band's ATU memories, see the KAT3 configuration option, the last description line, Tapping CLR within this menu entry clears.. John, KN5L __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 algorithms?
Randy, I found the ATU memory step spacing in the Firmware Release Notes. In release notes for MCU 3.03 / DSP 2.10, 3-17-2009: * MULTIPLE KAT3 ATU DATA SEGMENTS PER BAND/PER-ANT.: 10 kHz per segment on 160 m; 20 kHz on 80-12 m; 50 kHz on 10 m; 200 kHz on 6 m. John, KN5L __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 - KAT3 C10 blew up!
Wow...This happened to me today on very similar circumstances. I was warming up for the VHF contest and POP. I was having problems get the 6M beam to tune with a low SWR. Strange...it was a perfect 1:1 on the antenna analyzer. C10 finally burned open leaving the parallel inductor to complete the path to the antenna port. When I get back to the states I will replace the capacitor and hope for the best. 73, Doug KF4VTT/VP9 -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-KAT3-C10-blew-up-tp1803099p6466395.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at 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
[Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 Hiccup
The CQ 160M CW contest last weekend was the first contest for my K3 SN 4518. First time I've heard the fans kick in, same for the Samlex PS. And I have to say I am very pleased with the receive performance - with filter bandwidth set to 200 HZ and fine tuning, the band didn't seem crowded at all. Very few times did I have any trouble with adjacent signals. But I did have one scare. The KAT3 has always auto tuned my OCF dipole to a reasonable match. But about 7 hours into the contest I experienced a pop in the earphones and the K3 went deaf. The SWR was high and the KAT3 wouldn't tune better than 5.3:1. Thinking maybe I lost a leg off the dipole, I went outside and checked the antenna. All looked OK. I tested the antenna with another rig and a manual tuner and it seemed OK. Not knowing what else to do, I checked the OCF dipole on several other bands with the K3, and the KAT3 tuned to a good match. Then when I went back to check 160, all was well again. Needless to say, I was relieved. Went back to the contest and had no more problems. Anyone else ever experience anything like this? 73, Glenn / KD0Q __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
Many thanks, gentlemen, for the many words of wisdom. The topic, so far as I am concerned at least, is now closed! 73 Stephen G4SJP __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
Don, So you want to add +j1000 to +j1000 to get zero? Wes --- On Sun, 1/2/11, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Wes, I don't know about the -j501, but Kirchoff tells me that a series Xl = j1000 alone will cancel the +j1000 in the shack feedpoint (your example) leaving a 50 ohms pure resistive load, no need for the shunt element. Since the absolute value of the Low Pass L-net impedance requires that Rl be less than Rs, I do not know how a Low Pass section would provide a match. The matching section must be a High Pass with your values. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/2/2011 10:22 PM, Wes Stewart wrote: Sort of sounds logical but it's wrong. Let the load in the shack be 50 +j1000. A low-pass L-net with a shunt Xc = -j501 and series Xl = j1000 will do it. Wes N7WS --- On Sun, 1/2/11, Don Wilhelmw3...@embarqmail.com wrote: As you mentioned, the matching range of the KAT3 becomes greater as the frequency is increased. That fact is often overlooked by many hams. It is all about the amount of L and C available in the tuner, but the inductive or capacitive reactance is really what counts in producing the match. If the feedpoint in the shack has 1000 ohms of inductive reactance, and the tuner has only 600 ohms capacitive reactance to attempt to cancel that inductance, then a match will never happen. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
Wes, It was late last night and I misinterpreted the sign - so yes, that was what my eyes at that time did to me. Your solution is more correct in the light of day. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/3/2011 9:06 PM, Wes Stewart wrote: Don, So you want to add +j1000 to +j1000 to get zero? Wes --- On Sun, 1/2/11, Don Wilhelmw3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Wes, I don't know about the -j501, but Kirchoff tells me that a series Xl = j1000 alone will cancel the +j1000 in the shack feedpoint (your example) leaving a 50 ohms pure resistive load, no need for the shunt element. Since the absolute value of the Low Pass L-net impedance requires that Rl be less than Rs, I do not know how a Low Pass section would provide a match. The matching section must be a High Pass with your values. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/2/2011 10:22 PM, Wes Stewart wrote: Sort of sounds logical but it's wrong. Let the load in the shack be 50 +j1000. A low-pass L-net with a shunt Xc = -j501 and series Xl = j1000 will do it. Wes N7WS --- On Sun, 1/2/11, Don Wilhelmw3...@embarqmail.com wrote: As you mentioned, the matching range of the KAT3 becomes greater as the frequency is increased. That fact is often overlooked by many hams. It is all about the amount of L and C available in the tuner, but the inductive or capacitive reactance is really what counts in producing the match. If the feedpoint in the shack has 1000 ohms of inductive reactance, and the tuner has only 600 ohms capacitive reactance to attempt to cancel that inductance, then a match will never happen. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
I have only just recently added the KAT3 and I'm very impressed with it, but given the praise heaped upon it by others I'm slightly surprised that the best VSWR I can get on 160m is about 8:1. The antenna is approximately a doublet which is a half wave long on 80m I say 'approximately' as it's slightly off-centre fed. I have about 7m of 300 ohm slotted down from the feedpoint and then into a coaxial choke at roof level for the remaining 10m into the back of the K3. Substituting the straight connection for a 4:1 balun (Guanella) at the transition between the slotted feeder and the coax helps slightly but not by much. Unfortunately I don't have a vector analyser, so I have no idea of the nature of the reactance that the K3 is seeing. However, given the wavelength involved, I would need to add a very significant length of coaxial cable if I were to swing the point around the Smith Chart. I have tried to manually tune the KAT3, but unless I am missing something, I am am not able to change the L and C values at the same time as transmitting, so it's a very tedious process. Tomorrow I may well add some extra wire to hang vertically down from the ends of the doublet. In the meantime I would be pleased to hear any comments. Happy New Year! 73 Stephen, G4SJP __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
Stephen, What is the SWR without the tuner ? 73 Ken K5DNL -- --- On Sun, 1/2/11, Stephen Prior s...@sjprior.fsnet.co.uk wrote: From: Stephen Prior s...@sjprior.fsnet.co.uk Subject: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet To: elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Sunday, January 2, 2011, 1:31 PM I have only just recently added the KAT3 and I'm very impressed with it, but given the praise heaped upon it by others I'm slightly surprised that the best VSWR I can get on 160m is about 8:1. The antenna is approximately a doublet which is a half wave long on 80m I say 'approximately' as it's slightly off-centre fed. I have about 7m of 300 ohm slotted down from the feedpoint and then into a coaxial choke at roof level for the remaining 10m into the back of the K3. Substituting the straight connection for a 4:1 balun (Guanella) at the transition between the slotted feeder and the coax helps slightly but not by much. Unfortunately I don't have a vector analyser, so I have no idea of the nature of the reactance that the K3 is seeing. However, given the wavelength involved, I would need to add a very significant length of coaxial cable if I were to swing the point around the Smith Chart. I have tried to manually tune the KAT3, but unless I am missing something, I am am not able to change the L and C values at the same time as transmitting, so it's a very tedious process. Tomorrow I may well add some extra wire to hang vertically down from the ends of the doublet. In the meantime I would be pleased to hear any comments. Happy New Year! 73 Stephen, G4SJP __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
That is a really tough antenna to match for 160 Stephen. The classic way to use an 80 meter dipole on 160 is to short the feed line at a ground point and feed it with the center conductor with the braid to the best counter poise you can manage. This will make you a T topped Marconi which will probably tune for you. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ From: Stephen Prior s...@sjprior.fsnet.co.uk To: elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sun, January 2, 2011 1:31:06 PM Subject: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet I have only just recently added the KAT3 and I'm very impressed with it, but given the praise heaped upon it by others I'm slightly surprised that the best VSWR I can get on 160m is about 8:1. The antenna is approximately a doublet which is a half wave long on 80m I say 'approximately' as it's slightly off-centre fed. I have about 7m of 300 ohm slotted down from the feedpoint and then into a coaxial choke at roof level for the remaining 10m into the back of the K3. Substituting the straight connection for a 4:1 balun (Guanella) at the transition between the slotted feeder and the coax helps slightly but not by much. Unfortunately I don't have a vector analyser, so I have no idea of the nature of the reactance that the K3 is seeing. However, given the wavelength involved, I would need to add a very significant length of coaxial cable if I were to swing the point around the Smith Chart. I have tried to manually tune the KAT3, but unless I am missing something, I am am not able to change the L and C values at the same time as transmitting, so it's a very tedious process. Tomorrow I may well add some extra wire to hang vertically down from the ends of the doublet. In the meantime I would be pleased to hear any comments. Happy New Year! 73 Stephen, G4SJP __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
On 1/2/2011 11:31 AM, Stephen Prior wrote: In the meantime I would be pleased to hear any comments. The condition you describe is not at all surprising for an antenna that's half the length it needs to be for an acceptable match. 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
I guess I feel rather foolish. Why I should have expected the KAT3 to cope I don't know, perhaps I have been swayed by the reports of others who have claimed that the KAT3 would load anything anywhere! I shall have to lengthen the antenna. I don't have a good enough ground to feed the antenna as a Marconi so my options other than lengthening the antenna are rather limited. I'm not limited by space so much as by a very convenient distance between two tall trees! 73 Stephen G4SJP Let us consider the topic closed! On 02/01/2011 19:51, Jim Brown j...@audiosystemsgroup.com wrote: On 1/2/2011 11:31 AM, Stephen Prior wrote: In the meantime I would be pleased to hear any comments. The condition you describe is not at all surprising for an antenna that's half the length it needs to be for an acceptable match. 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 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
I used a low and bent doublet of 2 x 88ft per section for a while and it tuned up amazingly well on all bands 160 to 10 with the KAT3. As a rule I like to use multi-band doublets away from any obvious in-band resonances, so that it doesn't experience very high Z anywhere, so, adding a bit on each end and stringing them wherever they will sensibly go should work for you. A choke in the coax feed is good. David G3UNA I have only just recently added the KAT3 and I'm very impressed with it, but given the praise heaped upon it by others I'm slightly surprised that the best VSWR I can get on 160m is about 8:1. The antenna is approximately a doublet which is a half wave long on 80m I say 'approximately' as it's slightly off-centre fed. I have about 7m of 300 ohm slotted down from the feedpoint and then into a coaxial choke at roof level for the remaining 10m into the back of the K3. Substituting the straight connection for a 4:1 balun (Guanella) at the transition between the slotted feeder and the coax helps slightly but not by much. Tomorrow I may well add some extra wire to hang vertically down from the ends of the doublet. In the meantime I would be pleased to hear any comments. Happy New Year! 73 Stephen, G4SJP __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
That's not correct. I use a 40.8 m long windom and it's no problem to tune to a swr abt. 1.2 with the KAT3 on the 160m band. 73 Detlef, DL7NDF Am 02.01.2011 20:51, schrieb Jim Brown: On 1/2/2011 11:31 AM, Stephen Prior wrote: In the meantime I would be pleased to hear any comments. The condition you describe is not at all surprising for an antenna that's half the length it needs to be for an acceptable match. 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 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
On 1/2/2011 12:03 PM, Stephen Prior wrote: I don't have a good enough ground to feed the antenna as a Marconi so my options other than lengthening the antenna are rather limited. Don't give up so easily. In Chicago, I used a big wrought iron fence plus a dozen or so 30 ft long wires as counterpoise for a Marconi; KK9H has used the HVAC ducts in his home. ANY counterpoise is better than NO counterpoise. In another installation, I've run as many fairly short wires as I could from the base of the antenna, connected them together, and to the coax shield. Was it as good as 70 quarter-wave radials? Of course not. Did the antenna work well enough for me to have a lot of fun? Yup! My Marconi was a 100 ft long center-fed dipole with loading coils to resonate it on 80M. Just for fun, I tried loading it as a dipole on 160. Performance was wretched. Using it as a Marconi gave me signal reports at least 10dB better. 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
Jim, a large iron deposit lies north and west of Chicago, so verticals work very well in many areas around Chicago. I live on the Texas Gulf Coast which is salt laden gumbo from an ancient sea and verticals work very well here. I don't know about Stephen's area of the UK, but I will easily accept his experience that verticals don't work well there. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ From: Jim Brown j...@audiosystemsgroup.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sun, January 2, 2011 3:42:12 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet On 1/2/2011 12:03 PM, Stephen Prior wrote: I don't have a good enough ground to feed the antenna as a Marconi so my options other than lengthening the antenna are rather limited. Don't give up so easily. In Chicago, I used a big wrought iron fence plus a dozen or so 30 ft long wires as counterpoise for a Marconi; KK9H has used the HVAC ducts in his home. ANY counterpoise is better than NO counterpoise. In another installation, I've run as many fairly short wires as I could from the base of the antenna, connected them together, and to the coax shield. Was it as good as 70 quarter-wave radials? Of course not. Did the antenna work well enough for me to have a lot of fun? Yup! My Marconi was a 100 ft long center-fed dipole with loading coils to resonate it on 80M. Just for fun, I tried loading it as a dipole on 160. Performance was wretched. Using it as a Marconi gave me signal reports at least 10dB better. 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 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
On Sun, Jan 2, 2011 at 3:18 PM, Dr. Detlef Petrausch dl7...@t-online.dewrote: I use a 40.8 m long windom and it's no problem to tune to a swr abt. 1.2 with the KAT3 on the 160m band Yep, similar results here. I have used 7 different ATUs and the KAT3 is the best by far. The antenna can be way shorter than 1/2 wave and still tune up fine. No loading scheme is needed. A short antenna just presents a capacitive reactance (a -j value) to the tuner, which in my experience the KAT3 has always been able to deal with. According to my antenna analyzer, on some frequencies my antennas present reactive loads that put an SWR on the coax up to about 20:1. But I have only a short run of coax between balun and transmitter, so the loss is low. However, when the load presents a lot of reactance, I have found that it has been helpful in certain antenna setups to have a good counterpoise arrangement where the balanced feedline comes into the shack and goes into the balun. The counterpoise doesn't have to be resonant, nor does it need to be elaborate. Tony KT0NY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
It's very patchy: there are areas of huge clay deposits stretching for miles and very deep; I've forgotten the geological term for it, but I understand it was pushed into place by the last ice age; good for low loss low angle radiation I understand. There are also large areas of sand stone which is pretty hopeless for anything radio they tell me. Looking at the geology around Stephen I'd say it wasn't too good, however the sea isn't far away so the take off to the States is quite good if the immediate area around the antenna could be made efficient. Isn't the internet wonderful? David G3UNA I don't know about Stephen's area of the UK, but I will easily accept his experience that verticals don't work well there. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
The real issue with verticals over bad ground of that sort is to couple as little of it as possible. There is good evidence that DENSE elevated radials are effective over really bad earth. Since dense and elevated coupled together can easily be one of those easy-to-say-and-don't-dare-do situations practically, the possibility may make little difference. 73, Guy. On Sun, Jan 2, 2011 at 6:07 PM, David Cutter d.cut...@ntlworld.com wrote: It's very patchy: there are areas of huge clay deposits stretching for miles and very deep; I've forgotten the geological term for it, but I understand it was pushed into place by the last ice age; good for low loss low angle radiation I understand. There are also large areas of sand stone which is pretty hopeless for anything radio they tell me. Looking at the geology around Stephen I'd say it wasn't too good, however the sea isn't far away so the take off to the States is quite good if the immediate area around the antenna could be made efficient. Isn't the internet wonderful? David G3UNA I don't know about Stephen's area of the UK, but I will easily accept his experience that verticals don't work well there. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
The length of the radiator is only half the story. Unless the feedline is matched to the impedance at the antenna feedpoint, there will be SWR on the transmission line. When there is SWR on the transmission line, the type of line and its length become important when comparing whether any given antenna will work the same as any other antenna of the same length. So if you do not state the type and length of your feedline, it is like comparing apples to oranges. If you do not understand this phenomenon, take a look at the Antenna, Transmission Line, Tuner article on y website www.w3fpr.com. *If* it just so happens that the KAT3 cannot tune a particular antenna, then the impedance in the shack may be very low or very high (out of the range of the tuner). Adding or subtracting a 1/8 wavelength of feedline will often bring it into range, and that is normally the easiest solution if the only thing you are considering is the ability of the tuner to produce a match. 73, Don w3FPR On 1/2/2011 5:39 PM, Tony Estep wrote: On Sun, Jan 2, 2011 at 3:18 PM, Dr. Detlef Petrauschdl7...@t-online.dewrote: I use a 40.8 m long windom and it's no problem to tune to a swr abt. 1.2 with the KAT3 on the 160m band Yep, similar results here. I have used 7 different ATUs and the KAT3 is the best by far. The antenna can be way shorter than 1/2 wave and still tune up fine. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
Even if you can tune a 40m wire on 160, that doesn't mean it will work well. In my experience, short wires for the low bands are an exercise in futility. Barry W2UP -- Barry Kutner, W2UP Lakewood, CO __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
On Jan 2, 2011, at 4:01 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: Adding or subtracting a 1/8 wavelength of feedline will often bring it into range, and that is normally the easiest solution if the only thing you are considering is the ability of the tuner to produce a match. You can see what Don means by taking a look at this figure (KAT3 at 1.8 MHz, with Smith Chart centered at 50+i0 ohms): http://homepage.mac.com/chen/Technical/Tuner/tuner1.8.png Each point on the Smith Chart is a point that the KAT3 can be brought to an precise SWR of 1.0:1. The blue points are for the KAT3 cap on one side of the inductor and the green points are for the cap switch to the other end of the inductor (the KAT3 is an L tuner, with a relay K17, that switches the caps to one or the other side of the inductor). The center of the Smith Chart circle represents an antenna with an SWR of 1.0:1. As you go out towards the circumference, you have growing circles with the same centers, with ever increasing SWR. Notice (as Don mentioned) that when the SRW is large (towards the circumference of the Smith Chart), there are huge swaths of empty spots in the Smith Chart. These are terminations that the KAT3 can never bring to an SWR of 1.0:1. However (again, as Don mentioned), there are large areas beyond the blue region where you can rotate yourself along on a constant SWR circle and drop yourself right into where the dense green dots are! Voila, ability to tune to an SWR of 1.0:1 while you could not do so without rotating. How do you rotate yourself? A length of transmission line, of course! If you remember your transmission line theory, adding a transmission line will move you along a constant radius circle centered at SWR = 1.0:1. The 1/8 wavelength that Don mentioned will rotate you by 90 degrees. In the case of the K3, you may have to try everything up to about 3/4 of a wavelength since the green and blue parts are not symmetrical. (Yes, 3/4 wavelength at 160m is no fun :-). By the way, if you look carefully, there are SWR values outside of the blue-green Yin-Yang looking region, that are not occupied. I.e., there *will* be antennas that you will never be able to tune even if you try different transmission lines until you are blue in the face. But this plot (again, with reference center at 50 ohms) should quickly tell you which antenna is tunable at 1.8 MHz. If you want to look at the full resolution PDF of the above plot (warning: 9.4 MB), you can use this link: http://homepage.mac.com/chen/Technical/Tuner/tuner1.8.pdf The points are computed by using the capacitor and inductor values of the KAT3. The KAT-100 uses slightly different L and C -- if you are interested in seeing how that tuner works, and can run Xcode on a Mac, I am more than glad to send you the source code that you can modify to produce the PDF chart for a KAT100. The interesting thing about the KAT3 is that as you go up in frequency, the dots become sparser, but do cover the most of the Smith Chart circle out to very high SWR circles. That means that as you go up in frequency, you might not be able to tune to exactly SWR 1.0:1 but you can get close enough that it should not be a problem to tune any load well enough practically. For example, the KAT3 looks like this on 20m: http://homepage.mac.com/chen/Technical/Tuner/T14080.jpg Again, if you have Xcode loaded on your Mac (Xcode is on every Mac OS X Installer DVD, but you have to ask for it to be installed), I will be glad to send you the Xcode project so you can generate plots for any frequency that you wish. Vy 73 Chen, W7AY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
On Jan 2, 2011, at 5:52 PM, Kok Chen wrote: You can see what Don means by taking a look at this figure (KAT3 at 1.8 MHz, with Smith Chart centered at 50+i0 ohms): http://homepage.mac.com/chen/Technical/Tuner/tuner1.8.png I should add that, if memory serves (it has been a while ago that I wrote the program), the blue and green points are what an SWR 1.0:1 is transformed to by the KAT3. An antenna that will produce a match is actually the complex conjugate of one of the blue or green points (easy to figure out on the Smith Chart). 73 Chen, W7AY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
On Jan 2, 2011, at 5:52 PM, Kok Chen wrote: In the case of the K3, you may have to try everything up to about 3/4 of a wavelength since the green and blue parts are not symmetrical. (Yes, 3/4 wavelength at 160m is no fun :-). My mistake, that should be everything up to 3/8 of a wavelength Sorry -- brain shorted to ground; aftereffects of champagne. 1/2 a wavelength will rotate you completely through 360 degrees. 73 Chen, W7AY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
On 1/2/2011 2:39 PM, Tony Estep wrote: A short antenna just presents a capacitive reactance (a -j value) to the tuner, which in my experience the KAT3 has always been able to deal with. Well ... I think it sort of depends on the antenna and the length of the feedline if it's surge impedance isn't matched to the antenna feedpoint. Short Marconi-T's and Inv-L's typically will have some inductive reactance when fed at the bottom, hence the usual series cap. And, what Z appears at the TX end of the coax depends both on the mismatch at the feedpoint, and the length of the coax. W3FPR has suggested multiple times that, if all you're looking for is a match by the KAT3 so your K3 will be happy and exude power, try adding 1/8 wave of coax to the line. Of course, just getting a KAT3 match doesn't mean you're getting a lot of power into a short antenna or that it will radiate [or receive] well. I guess there's a reason why those old coastal marine stations had such huge antennas :-) 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011 - www.cqp.org __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
Chen Thanks for that supporting addition, and for your work on the Smith Chart showing the KAT3 matching range for 160 meters. It is all a matter of the physics of the situation. As you mentioned, the matching range of the KAT3 becomes greater as the frequency is increased. That fact is often overlooked by many hams. It is all about the amount of L and C available in the tuner, but the inductive or capacitive reactance is really what counts in producing the match. If the feedpoint in the shack has 1000 ohms of inductive reactance, and the tuner has only 600 ohms capacitive reactance to attempt to cancel that inductance, then a match will never happen. For a given L, the reactance increases with frequency, and with a given C, the reactance decreases with frequency. That can be easily seen from the formulas for inductive and capacitive reactance - for inductance, the f: term is a multiplier, and for capacitors, it is a divisor. The limiting factor for L-network tuners is usually the largest inductance available. The capacitive component is not normally the limiting factor because that can be made quite small (high reactance). The KAT3 (and KAT100 and KAT2, and KAT1 and KXAT1) uses an L-match tuning section. The required L and C values can easily be computed using the standard formulas for an L-matching section. If the L and C values required are greater than that available in the tuner, you have exceeded the range of the tuner. Instead of adding additional feedline, it is also possible to add parallel or series capacity or inductance at the feedline connection point to bring things into a tunable range. For those who want to pursue the fine points, study a bit about L-networks and conjugate matching. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/2/2011 8:52 PM, Kok Chen wrote: On Jan 2, 2011, at 4:01 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: Adding or subtracting a 1/8 wavelength of feedline will often bring it into range, and that is normally the easiest solution if the only thing you are considering is the ability of the tuner to produce a match. You can see what Don means by taking a look at this figure (KAT3 at 1.8 MHz, with Smith Chart centered at 50+i0 ohms): http://homepage.mac.com/chen/Technical/Tuner/tuner1.8.png Each point on the Smith Chart is a point that the KAT3 can be brought to an precise SWR of 1.0:1. The blue points are for the KAT3 cap on one side of the inductor and the green points are for the cap switch to the other end of the inductor (the KAT3 is an L tuner, with a relay K17, that switches the caps to one or the other side of the inductor). The center of the Smith Chart circle represents an antenna with an SWR of 1.0:1. As you go out towards the circumference, you have growing circles with the same centers, with ever increasing SWR. Notice (as Don mentioned) that when the SRW is large (towards the circumference of the Smith Chart), there are huge swaths of empty spots in the Smith Chart. These are terminations that the KAT3 can never bring to an SWR of 1.0:1. However (again, as Don mentioned), there are large areas beyond the blue region where you can rotate yourself along on a constant SWR circle and drop yourself right into where the dense green dots are! Voila, ability to tune to an SWR of 1.0:1 while you could not do so without rotating. How do you rotate yourself? A length of transmission line, of course! If you remember your transmission line theory, adding a transmission line will move you along a constant radius circle centered at SWR = 1.0:1. The 1/8 wavelength that Don mentioned will rotate you by 90 degrees. In the case of the K3, you may have to try everything up to about 3/4 of a wavelength since the green and blue parts are not symmetrical. (Yes, 3/4 wavelength at 160m is no fun :-). By the way, if you look carefully, there are SWR values outside of the blue-green Yin-Yang looking region, that are not occupied. I.e., there *will* be antennas that you will never be able to tune even if you try different transmission lines until you are blue in the face. But this plot (again, with reference center at 50 ohms) should quickly tell you which antenna is tunable at 1.8 MHz. If you want to look at the full resolution PDF of the above plot (warning: 9.4 MB), you can use this link: http://homepage.mac.com/chen/Technical/Tuner/tuner1.8.pdf The points are computed by using the capacitor and inductor values of the KAT3. The KAT-100 uses slightly different L and C -- if you are interested in seeing how that tuner works, and can run Xcode on a Mac, I am more than glad to send you the source code that you can modify to produce the PDF chart for a KAT100. The interesting thing about the KAT3 is that as you go up in frequency, the dots become sparser, but do cover the most of the Smith Chart circle out to very high SWR circles. That means that as you go up in frequency, you might not be able
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
Don't you mean to the transmission line? A quarter-wavelength line between the antenna and tuner makes that -j into a +j. Wes N7WS --- On Sun, 1/2/11, Tony Estep estept...@gmail.com wrote: The antenna can be way shorter than 1/2 wave and still tune up fine. No loading scheme is needed. A short antenna just presents a capacitive reactance (a -j value) to the tuner,. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
Sort of sounds logical but it's wrong. Let the load in the shack be 50 +j1000. A low-pass L-net with a shunt Xc = -j501 and series Xl = j1000 will do it. Wes N7WS --- On Sun, 1/2/11, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: As you mentioned, the matching range of the KAT3 becomes greater as the frequency is increased. That fact is often overlooked by many hams. It is all about the amount of L and C available in the tuner, but the inductive or capacitive reactance is really what counts in producing the match. If the feedpoint in the shack has 1000 ohms of inductive reactance, and the tuner has only 600 ohms capacitive reactance to attempt to cancel that inductance, then a match will never happen. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 and 160 with 40m long doublet
Wes, I don't know about the -j501, but Kirchoff tells me that a series Xl = j1000 alone will cancel the +j1000 in the shack feedpoint (your example) leaving a 50 ohms pure resistive load, no need for the shunt element. Since the absolute value of the Low Pass L-net impedance requires that Rl be less than Rs, I do not know how a Low Pass section would provide a match. The matching section must be a High Pass with your values. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/2/2011 10:22 PM, Wes Stewart wrote: Sort of sounds logical but it's wrong. Let the load in the shack be 50 +j1000. A low-pass L-net with a shunt Xc = -j501 and series Xl = j1000 will do it. Wes N7WS --- On Sun, 1/2/11, Don Wilhelmw3...@embarqmail.com wrote: As you mentioned, the matching range of the KAT3 becomes greater as the frequency is increased. That fact is often overlooked by many hams. It is all about the amount of L and C available in the tuner, but the inductive or capacitive reactance is really what counts in producing the match. If the feedpoint in the shack has 1000 ohms of inductive reactance, and the tuner has only 600 ohms capacitive reactance to attempt to cancel that inductance, then a match will never happen. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: KAT3 Antenna Tuner Question- Update
Dick, The K3 will display higher values of SWR if you use the TUNE mode (hold the XMIT/TUNE button). That will transmit a carrier and display the SWR in the VFO A display area. I don't know what the upper limit of this SWR display is, but I just tested it into a deliberately mismatched load and got 13.2 : 1. John, KU4AF Pittsboro, NC RLVZ wrote: Since the SWR is over 3.5 to 1 the SWR bar graph is of no value for tuning the antenna. -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-KAT3-Antenna-Tuner-Question-Update-tp5876338p5876714.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: KAT3 Antenna Tuner Question- Update
I've seen 25 and 33 before and both matched when tuned :-) 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174, P3 #108 On 30 Dec 2010, at 10:54, KU4AF wrote: Dick, The K3 will display higher values of SWR if you use the TUNE mode (hold the XMIT/TUNE button). That will transmit a carrier and display the SWR in the VFO A display area. I don't know what the upper limit of this SWR display is, but I just tested it into a deliberately mismatched load and got 13.2 : 1. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: KAT3 Antenna Tuner Question- Update
I believe it goes up to 99:1 (don't ask how I know this). I think the step you are missing is to turn off the ATU, then press tune (hold the XMIT button) to see the mismatch. I keep the tune power set low in case I transmit into the wrong antenna with a 99:1 match. 73, Joe W8JH K3 1713 -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-KAT3-Antenna-Tuner-Question-Update-tp5876338p5877517.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: KAT3 Antenna Tuner Question- Update
If I remember correctly, there is a procedure in the K3 manual for manually setting the L and C values in the ATU. However, if all you're really interested in is getting the VSWR readings, then all you need do do is turn your power way down (2-3 W is enough), set the ATU to bypass (press and hold the ATU TUNE button), then press and hold the TUNE button. The VSWR will be displayed in the VFO-A display if my memory serves me correctly. This is outlined in the book as well but it may not be immediately obvious. Personally, I have set the TUN PWR to 2.5W in the config menu so I don't have to keep adjusting my power to do a quick antenna check. You might also try K3-EZ. It has a neat VSWR plotting routine. I've seen 99:1 readings on very badly mismatched antennas and/or open connections which is one reason I keep my TUNE PWR set low. The default setting is NOR which uses whatever setting you have for transmit power... 73 And hope to catch you on the air Chuck - AA3CS Sent from my iPhone 1) Where can I find detailed instructions for using the KAT3? Such as, step by step instructions on how to use the manual tuning option. 2) I'm tuning an Inverted L antenna and the initial SWR is higher than maximum SWR LED level as all lights are lit. (so I have no idea what the actual SWR is) Is there a way to get an actual SWR or Reflected Power reading via the KAT3? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3: KAT3 Antenna Tuner Question
Hi Guys, I have a couple of questions about the KAT3 antenna tuner I'd appreciate your help with: 1) Where can I find detailed instructions for using the KAT3? Such as, step by step instructions on how to use the manual tuning option. 2) I'm tuning an Inverted L antenna and the initial SWR is higher than maximum SWR LED level as all lights are lit. (so I have no idea what the actual SWR is) Is there a way to get an actual SWR or Reflected Power reading via the KAT3? Yes, I know I should be using an Antenna Analyzer but mine is in for repair. Thanks 73, Dick- K9OM __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: KAT3 Antenna Tuner Question
Didk, you must have something terribly wrong to get this indication, like connected to the wrong connector or an open coax. I don't remember ever encountering a situation where my KAT-3 could not find a match. I have never tried a manual tune in the three years that I have owned the K3. Try connecting the K3 to your dummy load and see it it will tune. If you have a different tuner, try it on your L and see if it will work. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ From: r...@aol.com r...@aol.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Wed, December 29, 2010 8:01:05 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K3: KAT3 Antenna Tuner Question Hi Guys, I have a couple of questions about the KAT3 antenna tuner I'd appreciate your help with: 1) Where can I find detailed instructions for using the KAT3? Such as, step by step instructions on how to use the manual tuning option. 2) I'm tuning an Inverted L antenna and the initial SWR is higher than maximum SWR LED level as all lights are lit. (so I have no idea what the actual SWR is) Is there a way to get an actual SWR or Reflected Power reading via the KAT3? Yes, I know I should be using an Antenna Analyzer but mine is in for repair. Thanks 73, Dick- K9OM __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3: KAT3 Antenna Tuner Question- Update
Hi Willis, Thanks for the reply. I always leave something out! The KAT3 tuner will tune the Sloper fine. But when the tuner is out-of-line the Sloper SWR pins the SWR meter (lights all of the bars) and therefore I can't tell whether the antenna is too long or too short becuz wherever I qsy on the band the SWR still pins the meter. I was hoping there was a way to get an actual SWR reading from the K3/KAT3, such as: 5 to1. That way, I could check the SWR on the CW and SSB portions of the band and know whether the antenna needs to be shortened or lengthened. It appears that the K3/KAT3 will readout inductance or capacitance but not the actual SWR nor will it readout the Reflected Power. Since the SWR is over 3.5 to 1 the SWR bar graph is of no value for tuning the antenna. Guess I'll have to wait until my Antenna Analyzer is repaired. Thanks 73, Dick- K9OM In a message dated 12/29/2010 10:52:47 PM Eastern Standard Time, wrco...@yahoo.com writes: Didk, you must have something terribly wrong to get this indication, like connected to the wrong connector or an open coax. I don't remember ever encountering a situation where my KAT-3 could not find a match. I have never tried a manual tune in the three years that I have owned the K3. Try connecting the K3 to your dummy load and see it it will tune. If you have a different tuner, try it on your L and see if it will work. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ From: r...@aol.com r...@aol.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Wed, December 29, 2010 8:01:05 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K3: KAT3 Antenna Tuner Question Hi Guys, I have a couple of questions about the KAT3 antenna tuner I'd appreciate your help with: 1) Where can I find detailed instructions for using the KAT3? Such as, step by step instructions on how to use the manual tuning option. 2) I'm tuning an Inverted L antenna and the initial SWR is higher than maximum SWR LED level as all lights are lit. (so I have no idea what the actual SWR is) Is there a way to get an actual SWR or Reflected Power reading via the KAT3? Yes, I know I should be using an Antenna Analyzer but mine is in for repair. Thanks 73, Dick- K9OM __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 strange behaviour
At our IOTA site we were using 450 line as tuned feeders to a pair of orthogonal multiband doublets. We had the 450 line tied for support in the almost constant 15 knot sea breeze. At some point something flapped into a loop and pinched the conductors closer together on one of the lines. It wacked all the K3 auto-tuner settings and you couldn't switch back and forth without retuning. It took us a while to spot the problem. 73, Guy. On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 2:44 AM, Gary Gregory garyvk...@gmail.com wrote: Hi Tony, The open wire feeder was at fault as the route I had used had a bend which made a parallel path and when I straightened this out the issue went away. All is now as it should:-) Thanks for the info mate. Gary On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 7:58 AM, Tony Estep estept...@gmail.com wrote: On 12/05/2010 11:40 PM, elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net wrote: From: Gary Gregorygaryvk...@gmail.com ...using a double extended zepp I find it tunes all bands except 20M consistently but for a couple of weeks it has been fine. The KAT3 will tune to 1.1:1 BUT the swr meter fluctuates... Gary, in my case the fluctuating SWR indication turned out to be attributable to my station ground setup. It seems that just a small amount of RF on the feedline can create this symptom. My non-resonant antenna comes into a balun, then the coax goes through a line isolator, and thence to the rig. There is a counterpoise arrangement connected at the balun which has served satisfactorily to ground everything with a couple of antennas. However, when I put up a new one, I got the symptom you describe. Some tweaking of the grounding scheme completely cured it. Tony KT0NY __ 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 -- Gary VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile http://www.qsl.net/vk4fd/ K3 #679, P3 #546 For everything else there's Mastercard!!! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 strange behaviour
On 12/05/2010 11:40 PM, elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net wrote: From: Gary Gregorygaryvk...@gmail.com Subject: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 strange behaviour To:elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: aanlktikt6d7nr2b_tdn=fy1adzf0vs7f9sa6nwtly...@mail.gmail.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 G'Day all. Just now, using a double extended zepp I find it tunes all bands except 20M consistently but for a couple of weeks it has been fine. The KAT3 will tune to 1.1:1 BUT the swr meter fluctuates to 3:1 but does*not * generate HI SWR on the display. All other bands this behavior does not occur. Press and hold tune at 5W and up to 100W the swr shows stable. Without the KAT3 the zepp is 1.4:1 and reads stable. SSB Tx however produces this fluctuating swr reading which reaches as high as 3:1 Scratching my head here as all other bands 80 thru 10M this swr problem does not appear. It started during a qso and the other station reported a jump in signal strength from S2 to S9 on 20M Any clues from the group would be most helpful. 73's Gary Gary, I noticed the fluctuating K3 swr meter behaviour when driving an amp here (no KAT3 in mine). Changing the length of coax seems to have quite an effect on settling it down. If you can add 1/8 ~ 1/4 wl of coax in the length with a joiner, it would be interesting to see your results. Adrian ... vk4tux __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 strange behaviour
On 12/05/2010 11:40 PM, elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net wrote: From: Gary Gregorygaryvk...@gmail.com ...using a double extended zepp I find it tunes all bands except 20M consistently but for a couple of weeks it has been fine. The KAT3 will tune to 1.1:1 BUT the swr meter fluctuates... Gary, in my case the fluctuating SWR indication turned out to be attributable to my station ground setup. It seems that just a small amount of RF on the feedline can create this symptom. My non-resonant antenna comes into a balun, then the coax goes through a line isolator, and thence to the rig. There is a counterpoise arrangement connected at the balun which has served satisfactorily to ground everything with a couple of antennas. However, when I put up a new one, I got the symptom you describe. Some tweaking of the grounding scheme completely cured it. Tony KT0NY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 strange behaviour
Hi Tony, The open wire feeder was at fault as the route I had used had a bend which made a parallel path and when I straightened this out the issue went away. All is now as it should:-) Thanks for the info mate. Gary On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 7:58 AM, Tony Estep estept...@gmail.com wrote: On 12/05/2010 11:40 PM, elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net wrote: From: Gary Gregorygaryvk...@gmail.com ...using a double extended zepp I find it tunes all bands except 20M consistently but for a couple of weeks it has been fine. The KAT3 will tune to 1.1:1 BUT the swr meter fluctuates... Gary, in my case the fluctuating SWR indication turned out to be attributable to my station ground setup. It seems that just a small amount of RF on the feedline can create this symptom. My non-resonant antenna comes into a balun, then the coax goes through a line isolator, and thence to the rig. There is a counterpoise arrangement connected at the balun which has served satisfactorily to ground everything with a couple of antennas. However, when I put up a new one, I got the symptom you describe. Some tweaking of the grounding scheme completely cured it. Tony KT0NY __ 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 -- Gary VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile http://www.qsl.net/vk4fd/ K3 #679, P3 #546 For everything else there's Mastercard!!! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 KAT3 strange behaviour
G'Day all. Just now, using a double extended zepp I find it tunes all bands except 20M consistently but for a couple of weeks it has been fine. The KAT3 will tune to 1.1:1 BUT the swr meter fluctuates to 3:1 but does*not * generate HI SWR on the display. All other bands this behavior does not occur. Press and hold tune at 5W and up to 100W the swr shows stable. Without the KAT3 the zepp is 1.4:1 and reads stable. SSB Tx however produces this fluctuating swr reading which reaches as high as 3:1 Scratching my head here as all other bands 80 thru 10M this swr problem does not appear. It started during a qso and the other station reported a jump in signal strength from S2 to S9 on 20M Any clues from the group would be most helpful. 73's Gary -- Gary VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile http://www.qsl.net/vk4fd/ K3 #679, P3 #546 For everything else there's Mastercard!!! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 KAT3 strange behavior
Hmmm, Well it appears the BALANCED LINE feeder had developed an impedance bump somehow. Rerouting the feed line appears to have corrected the issue and now appears that the K3 likes it again. Gee, sometimes these little weird things bite us. (well maybe just me...:-) ? ) Anyhoo, will see what happens next. 73's Gary -- Gary VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile http://www.qsl.net/vk4fd/ K3 #679, P3 #546 For everything else there's Mastercard!!! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 strange behavior
Nope, they bite everyone. Eventually. 73, matt W6NIA On Sun, 05 Dec 2010 15:55:43 +1000, you wrote: Hmmm, Well it appears the BALANCED LINE feeder had developed an impedance bump somehow. Rerouting the feed line appears to have corrected the issue and now appears that the K3 likes it again. Gee, sometimes these little weird things bite us. (well maybe just me...:-) ? ) Anyhoo, will see what happens next. 73's Gary __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 - KAT3 performance
I don't have resonant antennas for the WARC bands. I have a sloping V [41m on each leg] fed with ladder line to a 4:1 balun at the bottom of the tower and coax into the shack. Works good on 30m and 40m, not so much on 80m [cloud warmer]. Was playing around with APF looking for weak signals and ran across YJ0HA on 24892. KAT3 matched the V to 1:1, worked him at 100W in about 2 mins. He's currently S3 and building with the preamp on. Sort of readable without the APF, with the APF I can hear him with the cans on the desk. Now if I just had the KPA500 ... 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011 - www.cqp.org __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 KAT3 Operation Manual ? ? ?
Hello All, I'm having a little trouble finding the KAT3 Operation Manual ? The KAT3 100-WATT AUTOMATIC ANTENNA TUNER INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS reads The KAT3 option is an internally-mounted 100-watt automatic antenna tuner. Complete details for using the KAT3 are included in the KXV3 Owner’s manual. This manual covers the installation of the KAT3 option in your K3 transceiver. I have looked In the KXV3 manual and found nothing ? I want to learn how to adjust the L and C so I can tune my 80 meter dipole. I can only get a 1.8.1 after hitting the ATU TUNE twice,also any other things that the tuner can do ? Maybe I have overlooked some thing ? By the way.I LOVE MY P3 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Thanks, 73 Anthony N3ANT -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-KAT3-Operation-Manual-tp5612599p5612599.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 Operation Manual ? ? ?
KAT3 ATU mode; normally set to BYP or AUTO (outside the menu, ATU alternates between the two). Modes L1-L8, C1-C8, and Ct are used to test KAT3 relays. Mode LCSET allows manual adjustment of L/C/net settings (you must exit the menu first). When in LCSET mode, tapping ATU TUNE shows the L and C values; C is changed with VFO A, L is changed with VFO B, and ANT toggles between Ca and Ct . Tapping CLR within this menu entry clears stored LC data for the present band. Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2010 11:56:42 -0700 From: n3...@live.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 Operation Manual ? ? ? Hello All, I'm having a little trouble finding the KAT3 Operation Manual ? The KAT3 100-WATT AUTOMATIC ANTENNA TUNER INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS reads The KAT3 option is an internally-mounted 100-watt automatic antenna tuner. Complete details for using the KAT3 are included in the KXV3 Owner’s manual. This manual covers the installation of the KAT3 option in your K3 transceiver. I have looked In the KXV3 manual and found nothing ? I want to learn how to adjust the L and C so I can tune my 80 meter dipole. I can only get a 1.8.1 after hitting the ATU TUNE twice,also any other things that the tuner can do ? Maybe I have overlooked some thing ? By the way.I LOVE MY P3 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Thanks, 73 Anthony N3ANT -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-KAT3-Operation-Manual-tp5612599p5612599.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at 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 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 Operation Manual ? ? ?
Thank you so much for the replyThat's allot more Info that I had ! ! ! ! -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-KAT3-Operation-Manual-tp5612599p5612691.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 Operation Manual ? ? ?
You can find a LOT of information about the K3 (including its options) by reading the section of the manual which explains each menu entry. I highly recommend each user begin there immediately after after familiarizing himself with the front and rear panel. Not only will it tell you how to do many things, but you will gain a better sense of how to configure the K3 to suit you and your operating preferences. From many questions I see here on the reflector, many do not even look at that most important section of the manual. If you fail to understand any of those menu items, please do ask here about it, and you will receive a helpful answer, and you are more likely to understand that answer too - there are many side benefits. 73, Don W3FPR On 10/7/2010 3:24 PM, ANTNEE N3ANT wrote: Thank you so much for the replyThat's allot more Info that I had ! ! ! ! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 KAT3 power during tune?
I see in the manual, under CONFIG TUNE it says: Note1: TUN PWR does not pertain to ATU TUNE , which always uses 5 or 10 W and is internally controlled. what determines if 5 or 10 watts is being used? -- GB 73 K5OAI Sam Morgan __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 power during tune?
I would think the firmware makes that determination. It always starts out using 5 watts and I see it jump to 10 watts just before finishing. KenK3IU On 10/4/2010 7:29 AM, Sam Morgan wrote: I see in the manual, under CONFIG TUNE it says: Note1: TUN PWR does not pertain to ATU TUNE , which always uses 5 or 10 W and is internally controlled. what determines if 5 or 10 watts is being used? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 power during tune?
Hi Sam, ATU tuning starts out at 5 watts. If a low SWR is located during the coarse-tune phase, we switch to 10 watts for the fine-tune. This improves SWR reading accuracy. 73, Wayne N6KR On Oct 4, 2010, at 4:29 AM, Sam Morgan wrote: I see in the manual, under CONFIG TUNE it says: Note1: TUN PWR does not pertain to ATU TUNE , which always uses 5 or 10 W and is internally controlled. what determines if 5 or 10 watts is being used? -- GB 73 K5OAI Sam Morgan __ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K3] KAT3 Auto Tune
The past week, my K3 ATU has not tuned to a nominal 1.5 or less SWR on 40M only. Today, I tried to clear the ATU memorized settings, but they didn't seem to be removed. I then went into manual setting the ATU and was successful in finding a 1:1 match. Exiting the manual mode, I was then about to Auto Tune to a 1:1 SWR. So, the question is why? Does the Clear settings function not work? Dan -- N3ND __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K3, KAT3] ATU icon
The K3 owners manual contains the following text: The ATU icon will flash briefly whenever new settings are automatically loaded. I've never noticed this flashing and I'm curious why not. The ATU is set to auto, and I'll go to the bottom of the CW portion of the 20m band and tap atu tune so the antenna tunes. No flashing, but it tunes down to 1:1. Then I'll jump into the middle of the voice portion of the band where I've previous tuned up, but no flashing. I'll hit ATU TUNE and it gets down to 1:1 again. Then jump back to the exact frequency at the bottom of 20m, and still no flashing. Same thing jumping bands... The ATU icon never flashes. However, it SEEMS that the ATU it switching in the proper tune... There just isn't any real indication of that until I transmit. Am I missing something? Thanks Gary / k3wow __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3, KAT3] ATU icon
It doesn't flash until you actually transmit at the new freq. 73, Ken K3IU On 8/29/2010 7:07 PM, Gary Dezern wrote: Then I'll jump into the middle of the voice portion of the band where I've previous tuned up, but no flashing. Am I missing something? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3, KAT3] ATU icon
I tried the same test, but TX'ing after each frequency or band change - and still no flashing. It appears that the tuner IS pulling in new settings (as the SWR doesn't jump up), but again - no visual indication. 73 - gary / k3wow On Aug 29, 2010, at 7:23 PM, Ken Wagner K3IU wrote: It doesn't flash until you actually transmit at the new freq. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3, KAT3] ATU icon
It only flashes very briefly, you gotta *not *blink, and it is possible that there was no change in the ATU settings at the new freq. 73, Ken K3IU On 8/29/2010 7:50 PM, Gary Dezern wrote: I tried the same test, but TX'ing after each frequency or band change - and still no flashing. It appears that the tuner IS pulling in new settings (as the SWR doesn't jump up), but again - no visual indication. 73 - gary / k3wow On Aug 29, 2010, at 7:23 PM, Ken Wagner K3IU wrote: It doesn't flash until you actually transmit at the new freq. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3, KAT3] ATU icon
That worked... 3.995, tune, 3.505 and tune... and back to 3.995 with a short ID and I saw the ATU icon flash. Strange that I don't see it when changing bands, though. Thanks for the advice, Sam. Take care and 73 Gary / k3wow On Aug 29, 2010, at 8:05 PM, Sam Morgan wrote: when you go from say 3.505 to 3.995 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3, KAT3] ATU icon
Gary Dezern wrote: That worked... 3.995, tune, 3.505 and tune... and back to 3.995 with a short ID and I saw the ATU icon flash. Strange that I don't see it when changing bands, though. You have to transmit once. Otherwise, you'd have relays clicking constantly as you tune the band. Works fine for me 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2010 Cal QSO Party 2-3 Oct 2010 - www.cqp.org __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 KAT3 forgets settings
Hi all, I just noticed the KAT3 in my K3 seems to forget its settings over time. I havn't narrowed down the exact conditions under which this occurs yet, tho. But I'll, say, do a series of tunes on 40M. It'll remember those while I'm using the rig. After a brief shutdown, they'll be retained and I still have the low SWR settings on 40 M. But it seems like if I either play around with it a bunch or leave the rig off for a while and come back to it (say overnight), the recalled settings are eventually all wrong. I.e. all the recalled settings give high SWR's and I have to retune everywhere on all the bands. AGain I'm not sure how to reproduce this because it works generally most of the time, particularly during a constantly-on use of the rig so I'm still trying to pin this down. Er, have I found another problem or is this something already known? Or ? Tnx es 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-KAT3-forgets-settings-tp4892021p4892021.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 forgets settings
Well lemme do some more troubleshooting first. I got scientific on my lunch break and started recording a few L/C settings. Sure enough, whilst I was fiddling around, I got distinct changes in my SWR but the L/C settings were remaining the same at the several frequencies. That's kind of the smoking gun that it's not the tuner and it's something else So this probably is a whole lotta nuthin... 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-KAT3-forgets-settings-tp4892021p4892258.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 forgets settings
LS, Just as a guess at the problem - How are you powering down the K3. If you are tuning the power supply off before the K3, then 'strange happenings' may result. To assure a smooth shutdown with everything remembered, turn the K3 off using the front panel power button or the PS0; command and allow it to cycle down before removing the power. 73, Don W3FPR lstavenhagen wrote: Hi all, I just noticed the KAT3 in my K3 seems to forget its settings over time. I havn't narrowed down the exact conditions under which this occurs yet, tho. But I'll, say, do a series of tunes on 40M. It'll remember those while I'm using the rig. After a brief shutdown, they'll be retained and I still have the low SWR settings on 40 M. But it seems like if I either play around with it a bunch or leave the rig off for a while and come back to it (say overnight), the recalled settings are eventually all wrong. I.e. all the recalled settings give high SWR's and I have to retune everywhere on all the bands. AGain I'm not sure how to reproduce this because it works generally most of the time, particularly during a constantly-on use of the rig so I'm still trying to pin this down. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 forgets settings
Hi Don, No, I think the tuner is retaining the settings, as verified on my lunch hour the SWR of my cheezy indoor ant was changing by itself but the L/C settings listed for the tuner were staying the same. At least at the two freqs. I recorded the settings for on 20 and 40. So that's the smoking gun like I said that it's something else. Could be someone moving their fridge in the next apt or something. I was being a bad QA dude and not doing proper troubleshooting, seems like the tuner is working normally This is ridiculous - I need to get a good ant. Tnx es 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-KAT3-forgets-settings-tp4892021p4892317.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 forgets settings
LS, If the L/C settings do not change, then the antenna load is changing. Check for wind moving the antenna, loose coax connectors (especially if UHF type which depend on being tight to provide a continuous path for the shield), bad coax, a balun with water in it, broken wires that sometimes make contact, and any other thing of that nature that you may be able to think of. 73, Don W3FPR lstavenhagen wrote: Well lemme do some more troubleshooting first. I got scientific on my lunch break and started recording a few L/C settings. Sure enough, whilst I was fiddling around, I got distinct changes in my SWR but the L/C settings were remaining the same at the several frequencies. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 forgets settings
If you have EZ_K3 do a plot on your antenna on one band, then try the ATU. If you have an antenna that is fed by open wire line for example there will be subtle changes in the antenna at different times and this will lead to incorrect the settings remembered by the tuner. I find this is repeatable on my Double extended 40M Zepp for example. The beam is always correct but then the swr is never above 1.5:1 on each band (measured by an analyser) so the tuner does not have to retune. YMMV Gary On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 6:03 AM, lstavenhagen lstavenha...@hotmail.comwrote: Hi Don, No, I think the tuner is retaining the settings, as verified on my lunch hour the SWR of my cheezy indoor ant was changing by itself but the L/C settings listed for the tuner were staying the same. At least at the two freqs. I recorded the settings for on 20 and 40. So that's the smoking gun like I said that it's something else. Could be someone moving their fridge in the next apt or something. I was being a bad QA dude and not doing proper troubleshooting, seems like the tuner is working normally This is ridiculous - I need to get a good ant. Tnx es 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-KAT3-forgets-settings-tp4892021p4892317.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at 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 -- Gary VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile K3 #679 For everything else there's Mastercard!!! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 forgets settings
Don, I guess you missed the fact that he is working with an indoor antenna... If he has wind and water problems he is in even bigger trouble than he thinks! :-) Rick K6LE On 4/12/2010, at 1:07 , Don Wilhelm wrote: LS, If the L/C settings do not change, then the antenna load is changing. Check for wind moving the antenna, loose coax connectors (especially if UHF type which depend on being tight to provide a continuous path for the shield), bad coax, a balun with water in it, broken wires that sometimes make contact, and any other thing of that nature that you may be able to think of. 73, Don W3FPR lstavenhagen wrote: Well lemme do some more troubleshooting first. I got scientific on my lunch break and started recording a few L/C settings. Sure enough, whilst I was fiddling around, I got distinct changes in my SWR but the L/C settings were remaining the same at the several frequencies. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 forgets settings
True, hi hi. As it is I feel dumb for even posting this without actually checking the actual settings first to see if they're not being saved/restored properly I did this real quick on my lunch break with a pair of settings on 20 and 40 and they do seem to be being saved so this is probably a false alarm... 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-KAT3-forgets-settings-tp4892021p4893040.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 forgets settings
I think you did a great job of troubleshooting it and narrowing it down to something outside the K3. Rick K6LE On 4/12/2010, at 3:21 , lstavenhagen wrote: True, hi hi. As it is I feel dumb for even posting this without actually checking the actual settings first to see if they're not being saved/restored properly I did this real quick on my lunch break with a pair of settings on 20 and 40 and they do seem to be being saved so this is probably a false alarm... 73, LS W5QD -- __ 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
