Re: [Elecraft] KX2 Starts Off with Low Output on 10M

2021-03-01 Thread Tim Tucker
Mine does that too.  What works for me is to tweak the mic gain up and then
back to the same level and it starts working normally.  Seems to me like
there is a firmware bug with the radio that hasn't been figured out and
addressed yet.

Tim

On Sun, Feb 28, 2021 at 6:08 PM Brian Hunt  wrote:

> Nate,
> A couple more questions:
>
> Does the KX2 do the same thing on CW?
>
> Did Elecraft say anything about doing a TX gain calibration?  This can be
> done with the KX2 utility although I haven’t done it on mine, just on my
> K3. It sets the per-band gain coefficients  Be sure to save the current
> CONFIG file so you can restore it if needed. You will need a good dummy
> load an a stable power source. The procedure is on p. 38 of the Rev A5
> Manual.
>
> Good luck,
> 73,
> Brian, K0DTJ
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Re: [Elecraft] KX2 Starts Off with Low Output on 10M

2021-03-01 Thread Nate Jedinak
Unfortunately, this did not fix my particular KX2.  TX Gain calibration was 
completed successfully, but the same issue persists.

I also did the TX bias calibration, and noted that bis on Q6 took ~45 seconds 
to complete, vs the 3-10 the manual suggested.  Q7 was fast.  Q6 wavered a lot 
between .3-.7v.  I suspect this suggests the problem is perhaps indeed 
hardware-related.

Thank you to everyone on the list who responded with ideas to check.  I’ll get 
this one packed up and sent back to Elecraft.

—Nate KE8QID

> On Mar 1, 2021, at 10:09 AM, Reed Fite  wrote:
> 
> Mine did the same thing. Did the TX gain calibration & that fixed it.
> 73,Reed  W4JZ
> 
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[Elecraft] KX2 Starts Off with Low Output on 10M

2021-03-01 Thread Reed Fite
Mine did the same thing. Did the TX gain calibration & that fixed it.
73,Reed  W4JZ

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Re: [Elecraft] KX2 Starts Off with Low Output on 10M

2021-02-28 Thread Brian Hunt
Nate,
A couple more questions:

Does the KX2 do the same thing on CW?

Did Elecraft say anything about doing a TX gain calibration?  This can be done 
with the KX2 utility although I haven’t done it on mine, just on my K3. It sets 
the per-band gain coefficients  Be sure to save the current CONFIG file so you 
can restore it if needed. You will need a good dummy load an a stable power 
source. The procedure is on p. 38 of the Rev A5 Manual. 

Good luck,
73,
Brian, K0DTJ
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Re: [Elecraft] KX2 Starts Off with Low Output on 10M

2021-02-28 Thread Nate Jedinak
I have replicated this behavior both with the internal as well as the MH3 
external mic. Of course set at different mic gain levels, always per the manual 
which as you said suggests 5 bars of ALC.  I have tried lower and higher mic 
gain settings just for fun, with the same results. 

I don’t think this is an mic gain issue, as it does happen on any other band 
I’ve used (80, 40, 20) and only on 10m. I made a video showing the behavior 
here, let me know what you think: https://youtu.be/7wWd6vRYSxo

I have had great QSOs on 40 and 20 so far, and feedback that my audio is 
extremely low on 10 until it “warms up” and then reports there are excellent, 
also. I usually talk on 10m for 45-60 minutes every weekend morning and it 
performs well once it’s up to power. 

Nate KE8QID 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 28, 2021, at 11:01 AM, Brian Hunt  wrote:
> 
> The KX2 uses a control loop to set power. Make sure you have sufficient 
> audio drive to energize the loop. Using the ALC display set the MIC GAIN so 
> you have 5-7 bars on voice peaks, per the manual. 
> 
> What MIC are you using? Have you tried the internal MIC?
> 
> GL & 73,
> Brian, K0DTJ
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Re: [Elecraft] KX2 Starts Off with Low Output on 10M

2021-02-28 Thread Brian Hunt
The KX2 uses a control loop to set power. Make sure you have sufficient audio 
drive to energize the loop. Using the ALC display set the MIC GAIN so you have 
5-7 bars on voice peaks, per the manual. 

What MIC are you using? Have you tried the internal MIC?

GL & 73,
Brian, K0DTJ
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Re: [Elecraft] KX2 Starts Off with Low Output on 10M

2021-02-28 Thread Paul GACEK via Elecraft
I have that problem to.

My solution is to wind the power back from 10w to anything less and then back 
to 10w.

Paul
W6PNG/M0SNA 
www.nomadic.blog

> On Feb 28, 2021, at 5:52 AM, Nate Jedinak  wrote:
> 
> Hello!  I recently purchased a KX2 (#757) from a friendly member of this 
> list. 
> 
> I have a local 10m meetup I attend frequently, and I noticed a strange 
> behavior that I'm now able to replicate.  When I first switch to 10m, I have 
> extremely low output power (one bar on the RF meter), even when set to 10w.  
> I have to keep transmitting for 30-60 seconds, and if I do, the output power 
> starts to work its way up to the full 10w.  As you talk, you'll see 2 bars, 
> 3, then 5, etc eventually to the full 10w.  If I switch back to another band 
> and back immediately, it will display the same behavior (start on one bar and 
> then climb slowly), but if I stay on 10m it will continue at full output for 
> the QSO.  I isolated this problem this morning and can now replicate at will. 
>  It's not just a display issue, my local meetup actually noticed it in audio 
> (I start off in the noise, and come out to normal over time).   
> 
> I mailed Elecraft, and they suggested it was a hardware failure in the final 
> stage. Before I return the radio for service, has anyone experienced this 
> issue previously and found it to be a configuration issue that didn’t need 
> hardware repair?
> 
> Thank you in advance!  Other than this issue, I absolutely love the KX2. It 
> took me 3 small HF rigs to land on it, but it suits my needs perfectly. 
> 
> —Nate KE8QID 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
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[Elecraft] KX2 Starts Off with Low Output on 10M

2021-02-28 Thread Nate Jedinak
Hello!  I recently purchased a KX2 (#757) from a friendly member of this list. 

I have a local 10m meetup I attend frequently, and I noticed a strange behavior 
that I'm now able to replicate.  When I first switch to 10m, I have extremely 
low output power (one bar on the RF meter), even when set to 10w.  I have to 
keep transmitting for 30-60 seconds, and if I do, the output power starts to 
work its way up to the full 10w.  As you talk, you'll see 2 bars, 3, then 5, 
etc eventually to the full 10w.  If I switch back to another band and back 
immediately, it will display the same behavior (start on one bar and then climb 
slowly), but if I stay on 10m it will continue at full output for the QSO.  I 
isolated this problem this morning and can now replicate at will.  It's not 
just a display issue, my local meetup actually noticed it in audio (I start off 
in the noise, and come out to normal over time).   

I mailed Elecraft, and they suggested it was a hardware failure in the final 
stage. Before I return the radio for service, has anyone experienced this issue 
previously and found it to be a configuration issue that didn’t need hardware 
repair?

Thank you in advance!  Other than this issue, I absolutely love the KX2. It 
took me 3 small HF rigs to land on it, but it suits my needs perfectly. 

—Nate KE8QID 

Sent from my iPhone
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