Re: [Elecraft] Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

In my shack I use LP-Bridge to provide virtual serial ports,
including one to the K3.


Does the problem occur if LP-Bridge is not running?  LP-Bridge
proxies commands and answers polling from its own "virtual K3".
Both are capable of causing abnormal operation, particularly
with N1MM Logger+ and another program such as NaP3 polling at
maximum data rates.

In addition to N1MMLogger+ what other applications are running when
this problem occurs?

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV


On 9/9/2015 11:38 PM, K8TE wrote:

Bill,



Memory macros-nope.



All the N1MM macros are the "standard" button pushes for the DVK messages.
A raspberry Pi may be in the future for my station control now that an
inexpensive touchscreen is available.  But I will stick with N1MM+-K3
interface for now.  In my shack I use LP-Bridge to provide virtual serial
ports, including one to the K3.  However, this anomaly has appeared when
using my old Vista laptop with both N1MM Legacy and Plus.



A passive logger could possibly indicate the anomaly's source.  Any suggests
for a software logger?



Consider that some other command could also be mangled into MG 0. The
mangling can occur anywhere in the command.



What would be useful here is a passive logger for the RS-232 connection. It
would simply monitor the connection and log everything sent over it. It
sounds like a Raspberry Pi application to me, but I like to play software
that is near the hardware level. You could also do it with an Arduino, which
gets rid of the OS, but also makes display output harder. YMMV.



73 Bill AE6JV



Guy,



I don't believe I've indicated this is an analog problem.  It's most
obviously a software/firmware problem.  There is no "MG" command in the N1MM
DVK macros:



CATA1ASC SWT21;

CATA1ASC SWT31;

CATA1ASC SWT35;

CATA1ASC SWT39;



The only commonality between occurrences is N1MM (various versions) and a
pair of K3's with various firmware versions.  There are no common cables,
USB hubs, serial cards, computers, etc.  That is not to say that some errant
event occurs on rare occasions.  It is interesting to not nothing else goes
astray on the K3 when using N1MM.



Since the anomaly occurred with a K3, and another K3 owner had a similar
issue this year, I posted here first.  Next I'll give it a try on the N1MM+
e-mail group.  I'm watching an episode of Sherlock Holmes on PBS as I type
this message-what an appropriate coincidence, or is it?



73, Bill, K8TE



Since the mic gain, displayed in a digit format, is reported as
literally going to the digit zero, we must remember that everything
inside a dotted line within the K3 is entirely SDR. We must carefully
avoid our decades-ground-in tendency to think of troubles in our
familiar and comfortable analog fashion.



From: Iain MacDonnell - N6ML-2 [via Elecraft]
[mailto:ml-node+s365791n760736...@n2.nabble.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2015 6:38 PM
To: K8TE 
Subject: Re: Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM



On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 6:07 AM, K8TE <[hidden email]> wrote:

I have experienced this same problem over numerous N1MM versions (legacy

and

Plus).  It is very intermittent and I'm unable to identify a specific
command or cause.  It's happened to me on both my shack and portable
computers.  This symptom does not show up with my daily logger (N3FJP

ACLog)

but it has occurred with both of my K3's.

I use the "typical" K3 commands for either keying DVK memories or audio

from

my computers.  I don't use any of the mic gain command strings in N1MM+.


Is it possible that you have a macro associated with one of the memory
buttons('s programmable function), which sets the MIC gain, and one of
your lesser-used N1MM Logger messages is virtually pushing that button
(SWT/SWH)?

73,

 ~iain / N6ML
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Re: [Elecraft] Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

[K8TE]

Yes Joe, it has happened on my old Toshiba with Windows Vista laptop running
N1MM by itself.  I don't run NaP3 currently on the shack PC on which I run
LP-Bridge.  There, I usually have Chrome open as well.  The anomaly occurred
once during this week's Phone Fray during which I also had an instance of IE
open.  On that computer, CPU cycles are not an issue.

 

This PC runs on Windows XP, soon to be replaced with a "modern" Dell and
Windows 8.1.  For communications with the K3, I run N1MM+ through LP-Bridge
via an on-board dual Serial port board.

 

I don't run LP-Bridge on my mobile/portable laptop.  I tried it once, but it
doesn't have sufficient horsepower.  With that computer I use a USB to dual
serial port adapter for K3 communications.  I have observed the anomaly on
both computers although it rarely occurs on either.  I'll put together a
more concise description for the N1MM+ reflector later today.

 

Both computers have anti-virus and firewall programs running simultaneously.
In their current configurations, neither has issues with CPU cycles during
contesting.  I use Startup Delayer to manage what and when programs come up
on boot to help manage CPU use.  That comes in handy during the rare
occurrence when a re-boot is necessary during a contest (always be
prepared).

 

I also run the VE7CC CC cluster client when the contest allows and I choose
to enter in the assisted class.  Again, the problem has occurred both with
VE7CC on and off.

 

Let me add my thanks to all who have responded to my question!  73, Bill,
K8TE

 

From: Joe Subich, W4TV-4 [via Elecraft]
[mailto:ml-node+s365791n7607374...@n2.nabble.com] 
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 6:52 AM
To: K8TE 
Subject: Re: Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

 


> In my shack I use LP-Bridge to provide virtual serial ports, 
> including one to the K3. 

Does the problem occur if LP-Bridge is not running?  LP-Bridge 
proxies commands and answers polling from its own "virtual K3". 
Both are capable of causing abnormal operation, particularly 
with N1MM Logger+ and another program such as NaP3 polling at 
maximum data rates. 

In addition to N1MMLogger+ what other applications are running when 
this problem occurs? 

73, 

... Joe, W4TV 


On 9/9/2015 11:38 PM, K8TE wrote: 


> Bill, 
> 
> 
> 
> Memory macros-nope. 
> 
> 
> 
> All the N1MM macros are the "standard" button pushes for the DVK messages.

> A raspberry Pi may be in the future for my station control now that an 
> inexpensive touchscreen is available.  But I will stick with N1MM+-K3 
> interface for now.  In my shack I use LP-Bridge to provide virtual serial 
> ports, including one to the K3.  However, this anomaly has appeared when 
> using my old Vista laptop with both N1MM Legacy and Plus. 
> 
> 
> 
> A passive logger could possibly indicate the anomaly's source.  Any
suggests 
> for a software logger? 
> 
> 
> 
> Consider that some other command could also be mangled into MG 0. The 
> mangling can occur anywhere in the command. 
> 
> 
> 
> What would be useful here is a passive logger for the RS-232 connection.
It 
> would simply monitor the connection and log everything sent over it. It 
> sounds like a Raspberry Pi application to me, but I like to play software 
> that is near the hardware level. You could also do it with an Arduino,
which 
> gets rid of the OS, but also makes display output harder. YMMV. 
> 
> 
> 
> 73 Bill AE6JV 
> 
> 
> 
> Guy, 
> 
> 
> 
> I don't believe I've indicated this is an analog problem.  It's most 
> obviously a software/firmware problem.  There is no "MG" command in the
N1MM 
> DVK macros: 
> 
> 
> 
> CATA1ASC SWT21; 
> 
> CATA1ASC SWT31; 
> 
> CATA1ASC SWT35; 
> 
> CATA1ASC SWT39; 
> 
> 
> 
> The only commonality between occurrences is N1MM (various versions) and a 
> pair of K3's with various firmware versions.  There are no common cables, 
> USB hubs, serial cards, computers, etc.  That is not to say that some
errant 
> event occurs on rare occasions.  It is interesting to not nothing else
goes 
> astray on the K3 when using N1MM. 
> 
> 
> 
> Since the anomaly occurred with a K3, and another K3 owner had a similar 
> issue this year, I posted here first.  Next I'll give it a try on the
N1MM+ 
> e-mail group.  I'm watching an episode of Sherlock Holmes on PBS as I type

> this message-what an appropriate coincidence, or is it? 
> 
> 
> 
> 73, Bill, K8TE 
> 
> 
> 
> Since the mic gain, displayed in a digit format, is reported as 
> literally going to the digit zero, we must remember that everything 
> inside a dotted line within the K3 is entirely SDR. We must carefully 
> avoid our decades-ground-in tendency to think of troubles in our 
> familiar and comfortable analog fashion. 
> 
> 
> 
> From: Iain MacDonnell - N6ML-2 [via Elecraft] 
> [mailto:[hidden email]] 
> Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2015 6:38 PM 
> To: K8TE <[hidden email]> 
> Subject: Re: Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM 
> 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 

Re: [Elecraft] Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

[K8TE]

I have experienced this same problem over numerous N1MM versions (legacy and
Plus).  It is very intermittent and I'm unable to identify a specific
command or cause.  It's happened to me on both my shack and portable
computers.  This symptom does not show up with my daily logger (N3FJP ACLog)
but it has occurred with both of my K3's.

I use the "typical" K3 commands for either keying DVK memories or audio from
my computers.  I don't use any of the mic gain command strings in N1MM+.

Are we the only two who have experienced this?  I've Googled this previously
but not found any threads on the subject.  I'm glad to read (sort of) I'm
not alone.  I have operated many hours (all of Field Day) without this
symptom appearing.  Yet, it happened a couple of times in last weekend's
Colorado QSO Party.  It's a mystery to me.

73, Bill, K8TE



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Re: [Elecraft] Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

[KE1B]

On Sep 9, 2015, at 6:07 AM, K8TE  wrote:

> I have experienced this same problem over numerous N1MM versions (legacy and
> Plus).  It is very intermittent and I'm unable to identify a specific
> command or cause.  It's happened to me on both my shack and portable
> computers.  This symptom does not show up with my daily logger (N3FJP ACLog)
> but it has occurred with both of my K3's.
> 
> I use the "typical" K3 commands for either keying DVK memories or audio from
> my computers.  I don't use any of the mic gain command strings in N1MM+.
> 
> Are we the only two who have experienced this?  I've Googled this previously
> but not found any threads on the subject.  I'm glad to read (sort of) I'm
> not alone.  I have operated many hours (all of Field Day) without this
> symptom appearing.  Yet, it happened a couple of times in last weekend's
> Colorado QSO Party.  It's a mystery to me.
> 

It’s a mystery to me, too. When I lose transmit power (and once it goes, it’s 
gone until I do a power off/on or switch to ANT2 and back) I checked the Mic 
Gain and it was normal (31 for me). The power level was also at its proper 
setting. It has happened both using N1MM+ and my daily logger (MacloggerDX). I 
use NO CAT commands with MLDX. 

That is at a time of failure, I have a Mic Gain of 31, a Power level of 50W or 
so, I key the rig (footswitch), the K3S goes into Transmit Mode (Red LED, 
receiver goes off) but there is no power output shown, and no SWR shown (as 
would be if the antenna was disconnected externally). I hear myself perfectly 
well in the headset monitor, indicating there is a good connection from the 
microphone through to the radio. Just no output power. And as I said, switching 
to ANT2 and back to ANT1 brings all to normal, as does a power reset. To me, 
something is intermittent in the radio internals, but I have no idea what.

Elecraft advised me to try to reproduce the problem with a “no frills” setup: 
no computer, no amp, just the K3S into a dummy load. I’ll try this today, but 
of course with intermittent problems it may or may not recur.

-Rich KE1B

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Re: [Elecraft] Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

[K8TE]

In my case, the Mic gain is normally set to 8-9 (CM500 headset).  The anomaly 
decreases the Mic Gain to zero.  I manually reset it to 8-9 which restores SSB 
power output to normal.  I haven’t tried any other actions to restore the Mic 
gain.  All indications I have this is a Mic Gain problem.

73, Bill, K8TE

 

From: KE1B [via Elecraft] [mailto:ml-node+s365791n7607327...@n2.nabble.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2015 9:20 AM
To: K8TE 
Subject: Re: Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

 


On Sep 9, 2015, at 6:07 AM, K8TE <[hidden email]> wrote: 


> I have experienced this same problem over numerous N1MM versions (legacy and 
> Plus).  It is very intermittent and I'm unable to identify a specific 
> command or cause.  It's happened to me on both my shack and portable 
> computers.  This symptom does not show up with my daily logger (N3FJP ACLog) 
> but it has occurred with both of my K3's. 
> 
> I use the "typical" K3 commands for either keying DVK memories or audio from 
> my computers.  I don't use any of the mic gain command strings in N1MM+. 
> 
> Are we the only two who have experienced this?  I've Googled this previously 
> but not found any threads on the subject.  I'm glad to read (sort of) I'm 
> not alone.  I have operated many hours (all of Field Day) without this 
> symptom appearing.  Yet, it happened a couple of times in last weekend's 
> Colorado QSO Party.  It's a mystery to me. 
> 


It’s a mystery to me, too. When I lose transmit power (and once it goes, it’s 
gone until I do a power off/on or switch to ANT2 and back) I checked the Mic 
Gain and it was normal (31 for me). The power level was also at its proper 
setting. It has happened both using N1MM+ and my daily logger (MacloggerDX). I 
use NO CAT commands with MLDX. 

That is at a time of failure, I have a Mic Gain of 31, a Power level of 50W or 
so, I key the rig (footswitch), the K3S goes into Transmit Mode (Red LED, 
receiver goes off) but there is no power output shown, and no SWR shown (as 
would be if the antenna was disconnected externally). I hear myself perfectly 
well in the headset monitor, indicating there is a good connection from the 
microphone through to the radio. Just no output power. And as I said, switching 
to ANT2 and back to ANT1 brings all to normal, as does a power reset. To me, 
something is intermittent in the radio internals, but I have no idea what. 

Elecraft advised me to try to reproduce the problem with a “no frills” setup: 
no computer, no amp, just the K3S into a dummy load. I’ll try this today, but 
of course with intermittent problems it may or may not recur. 

-Rich KE1B 







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Re: [Elecraft] Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

[Mike Reublin NF4L]

Well said!

73, Mike NF4L


> On Sep 9, 2015, at 5:32 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV  wrote:
> 
> On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 11:29 AM, K8TE  wrote:
>> 
>> In my case, the Mic gain is normally set to 8-9 (CM500 headset).  The 
>> anomaly decreases the Mic Gain to zero.  I manually reset it to 8-9 which 
>> restores SSB power output to normal.  I haven’t tried any other actions to 
>> restore the Mic gain.  All indications I have this is a Mic Gain problem.
>> 
> 
> Since the mic gain, displayed in a digit format, is reported as
> literally going to the digit zero, we must remember that everything
> inside a dotted line within the K3 is entirely SDR. We must carefully
> avoid our decades-ground-in tendency to think of troubles in our
> familiar and comfortable analog fashion. I do include myself in this
> habit and sometimes catch myself going retrograde, having to do a
> brainwave CTL-ALT-DEL, and start over from the beginning.
> 
> This trouble is presenting inside the K3's SDR dotted line. Of the
> eight "pots" on six shaft centers on the left side K3 front panel, all
> those rotational functions *advise* the CPU of their state via
> multiplexed one and zero state data lines. There is no gain
> potentiometer inserted anywhere in the various audio paths, nor is
> there a steady state control voltage from a potentiometer controlling
> a linear pass transistor in the audio string anywhere, thank your
> lucky stars. Remember "scratchy" audio? Just another of the analog
> bugaboos happily banned forever by the K3's mostly SDR hybrid scheme.
> 
> The MIC control function uses a *shared* encoder assigned three
> separate unrelated settings. If the encoder or its physical data
> connection to the CPU was a problem, it would affect all three
> functions MIC, SPEED and DELAY on the front panel. I have heard of the
> encoder going bad and needing to be replaced. If the encoder is
> miscellaneously sending a string of "decrease" encoder signals, it
> should also happen in SPEED or DELAY mode. All the encoder can do is
> send increase or decrease signals. You would have your CW and VOX
> delays going to nothing, or your CW speed going to the 8 WPM minimum.
> 
> The CPU knows what function is currently "on the knob" and the static
> values in force for the three lower left encoder functions. Exactly
> one function at a time is currently assigned to the knob, and the CPU
> interprets a "decrease signal" accordingly. The decrease signal
> travels to the CPU over a multiplexed data line which is either there
> and properly working for many diverse functions or is not for all
> those functions.
> 
> Doesn't this really start to smell like a program issue? That gets you
> to the next thing -- if it is a firmware bug, then the trouble is
> present for ALL K3 users running the affected firmware version(s). And
> we should have lots of reports because every single user of the
> firmware could be experiencing the same problem intermittently.
> 
> The only program code that could isolate the trouble to a *few* users
> would have to be external to the K3. Is it possible for an external
> program to set the MIC gain? This of course is impossible in an analog
> radio priced for ham customers, so analog thinking would not suggest
> that. The trouble would have to be IN an analog radio. But since the
> K3 is digital, we note that page 1 of the K3 programmer's guide has
> "MG * Mic gain" cell in the command table cheet sheet. That just might
> be an "Aha" moment.
> 
> If an external program intermittently sent an MG 000 command to the
> K3, you would inconveniently find the MIC gain set to zero,
> intermittently. Not a K3 intermittent physical problem, but a K3
> *commanded* to set MIC gain at zero, a command which the K3 mindlessly
> obeys, as yet unable to read a contrary indication from the mind of
> the operator. Let me know when the mind-reading K7 shows up. I want
> one. Get rid of a lot of cables and input devices.
> 
> I, myself, with my terribly soft and mumbly radio voice, with
> extensive trials managed to get a good setting for K3 SSB MIC gain,
> compression and TX EQ settings. I was directed to those settings, and
> had those settings confirmed as clear, punchy and understandable over
> the air, by the PVRC contest guru crowd. Predictably I haven't myself
> touched those settings in maybe three or four YEARS now. They are
> still where I put them. They better stay there, too. People don't hear
> me nearly as well when I'm non-K3-processed. It's like turning off the
> amplifier.
> 
> Repeating myself, if it's a third party program on someone's
> particularly configured PC, or with a particular parallel combination
> of running third party programs, then the mic gain to zero problem
> would be scattered and rare. If it's in K3 firmware, it probably would
> have been caught in alpha or beta testing. If if got to the general
> field in a production release, Big E would have been buried in
> 

Re: [Elecraft] Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

[iain macdonnell - N6ML]

On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 6:07 AM, K8TE  wrote:
> I have experienced this same problem over numerous N1MM versions (legacy and
> Plus).  It is very intermittent and I'm unable to identify a specific
> command or cause.  It's happened to me on both my shack and portable
> computers.  This symptom does not show up with my daily logger (N3FJP ACLog)
> but it has occurred with both of my K3's.
>
> I use the "typical" K3 commands for either keying DVK memories or audio from
> my computers.  I don't use any of the mic gain command strings in N1MM+.

Is it possible that you have a macro associated with one of the memory
buttons('s programmable function), which sets the MIC gain, and one of
your lesser-used N1MM Logger messages is virtually pushing that button
(SWT/SWH)?

73,

~iain / N6ML
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Re: [Elecraft] Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

[K8TE]

Bill,

 

Memory macros-nope.

 

All the N1MM macros are the "standard" button pushes for the DVK messages.
A raspberry Pi may be in the future for my station control now that an
inexpensive touchscreen is available.  But I will stick with N1MM+-K3
interface for now.  In my shack I use LP-Bridge to provide virtual serial
ports, including one to the K3.  However, this anomaly has appeared when
using my old Vista laptop with both N1MM Legacy and Plus.

 

A passive logger could possibly indicate the anomaly's source.  Any suggests
for a software logger?

 

Consider that some other command could also be mangled into MG 0. The
mangling can occur anywhere in the command.

 

What would be useful here is a passive logger for the RS-232 connection. It
would simply monitor the connection and log everything sent over it. It
sounds like a Raspberry Pi application to me, but I like to play software
that is near the hardware level. You could also do it with an Arduino, which
gets rid of the OS, but also makes display output harder. YMMV.

 

73 Bill AE6JV

 

Guy,

 

I don't believe I've indicated this is an analog problem.  It's most
obviously a software/firmware problem.  There is no "MG" command in the N1MM
DVK macros:

 

CATA1ASC SWT21;

CATA1ASC SWT31;

CATA1ASC SWT35;

CATA1ASC SWT39;

 

The only commonality between occurrences is N1MM (various versions) and a
pair of K3's with various firmware versions.  There are no common cables,
USB hubs, serial cards, computers, etc.  That is not to say that some errant
event occurs on rare occasions.  It is interesting to not nothing else goes
astray on the K3 when using N1MM.

 

Since the anomaly occurred with a K3, and another K3 owner had a similar
issue this year, I posted here first.  Next I'll give it a try on the N1MM+
e-mail group.  I'm watching an episode of Sherlock Holmes on PBS as I type
this message-what an appropriate coincidence, or is it?

 

73, Bill, K8TE

 

Since the mic gain, displayed in a digit format, is reported as 
literally going to the digit zero, we must remember that everything 
inside a dotted line within the K3 is entirely SDR. We must carefully 
avoid our decades-ground-in tendency to think of troubles in our 
familiar and comfortable analog fashion.

 

From: Iain MacDonnell - N6ML-2 [via Elecraft]
[mailto:ml-node+s365791n760736...@n2.nabble.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2015 6:38 PM
To: K8TE 
Subject: Re: Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

 

On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 6:07 AM, K8TE <[hidden email]> wrote: 
> I have experienced this same problem over numerous N1MM versions (legacy
and 
> Plus).  It is very intermittent and I'm unable to identify a specific 
> command or cause.  It's happened to me on both my shack and portable 
> computers.  This symptom does not show up with my daily logger (N3FJP
ACLog) 
> but it has occurred with both of my K3's. 
> 
> I use the "typical" K3 commands for either keying DVK memories or audio
from 
> my computers.  I don't use any of the mic gain command strings in N1MM+. 

Is it possible that you have a macro associated with one of the memory 
buttons('s programmable function), which sets the MIC gain, and one of 
your lesser-used N1MM Logger messages is virtually pushing that button 
(SWT/SWH)? 

73, 

~iain / N6ML 
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Re: [Elecraft] Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

[Guy Olinger K2AV]

On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 11:29 AM, K8TE  wrote:
>
> In my case, the Mic gain is normally set to 8-9 (CM500 headset).  The anomaly 
> decreases the Mic Gain to zero.  I manually reset it to 8-9 which restores 
> SSB power output to normal.  I haven’t tried any other actions to restore the 
> Mic gain.  All indications I have this is a Mic Gain problem.
>

Since the mic gain, displayed in a digit format, is reported as
literally going to the digit zero, we must remember that everything
inside a dotted line within the K3 is entirely SDR. We must carefully
avoid our decades-ground-in tendency to think of troubles in our
familiar and comfortable analog fashion. I do include myself in this
habit and sometimes catch myself going retrograde, having to do a
brainwave CTL-ALT-DEL, and start over from the beginning.

This trouble is presenting inside the K3's SDR dotted line. Of the
eight "pots" on six shaft centers on the left side K3 front panel, all
those rotational functions *advise* the CPU of their state via
multiplexed one and zero state data lines. There is no gain
potentiometer inserted anywhere in the various audio paths, nor is
there a steady state control voltage from a potentiometer controlling
a linear pass transistor in the audio string anywhere, thank your
lucky stars. Remember "scratchy" audio? Just another of the analog
bugaboos happily banned forever by the K3's mostly SDR hybrid scheme.

The MIC control function uses a *shared* encoder assigned three
separate unrelated settings. If the encoder or its physical data
connection to the CPU was a problem, it would affect all three
functions MIC, SPEED and DELAY on the front panel. I have heard of the
encoder going bad and needing to be replaced. If the encoder is
miscellaneously sending a string of "decrease" encoder signals, it
should also happen in SPEED or DELAY mode. All the encoder can do is
send increase or decrease signals. You would have your CW and VOX
delays going to nothing, or your CW speed going to the 8 WPM minimum.

The CPU knows what function is currently "on the knob" and the static
values in force for the three lower left encoder functions. Exactly
one function at a time is currently assigned to the knob, and the CPU
interprets a "decrease signal" accordingly. The decrease signal
travels to the CPU over a multiplexed data line which is either there
and properly working for many diverse functions or is not for all
those functions.

Doesn't this really start to smell like a program issue? That gets you
to the next thing -- if it is a firmware bug, then the trouble is
present for ALL K3 users running the affected firmware version(s). And
we should have lots of reports because every single user of the
firmware could be experiencing the same problem intermittently.

The only program code that could isolate the trouble to a *few* users
would have to be external to the K3. Is it possible for an external
program to set the MIC gain? This of course is impossible in an analog
radio priced for ham customers, so analog thinking would not suggest
that. The trouble would have to be IN an analog radio. But since the
K3 is digital, we note that page 1 of the K3 programmer's guide has
"MG * Mic gain" cell in the command table cheet sheet. That just might
be an "Aha" moment.

If an external program intermittently sent an MG 000 command to the
K3, you would inconveniently find the MIC gain set to zero,
intermittently. Not a K3 intermittent physical problem, but a K3
*commanded* to set MIC gain at zero, a command which the K3 mindlessly
obeys, as yet unable to read a contrary indication from the mind of
the operator. Let me know when the mind-reading K7 shows up. I want
one. Get rid of a lot of cables and input devices.

I, myself, with my terribly soft and mumbly radio voice, with
extensive trials managed to get a good setting for K3 SSB MIC gain,
compression and TX EQ settings. I was directed to those settings, and
had those settings confirmed as clear, punchy and understandable over
the air, by the PVRC contest guru crowd. Predictably I haven't myself
touched those settings in maybe three or four YEARS now. They are
still where I put them. They better stay there, too. People don't hear
me nearly as well when I'm non-K3-processed. It's like turning off the
amplifier.

Repeating myself, if it's a third party program on someone's
particularly configured PC, or with a particular parallel combination
of running third party programs, then the mic gain to zero problem
would be scattered and rare. If it's in K3 firmware, it probably would
have been caught in alpha or beta testing. If if got to the general
field in a production release, Big E would have been buried in
complaints.

Myself, I would suspect something incoming on the control serial line
like "MIC 010" losing ASCII digits and arriving as "MIC 0", or mangled
to "MIC 000" or something like that. Does the K3 process a "MIC 0"
command or consider that an invalid command? I don't 

Re: [Elecraft] Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

[Don Wilhelm]

Jerry,

Does the K3 respond normally when operated from the buttons and knobs?
If so, the problem lies with the software that you are using - in this 
case, N1MM - unless there is a bug in the K3 command structure, and 
AFAIK there have been no recent changes.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/20/2015 9:00 PM, Jerry Knowlton wrote:

Evening all,

I was setting up N1MM with the K3 for the Virginia QSO party tomorrow when I
noticed the following strange behavior.

Whenever I press any of the FKeys on N1mm (with the exception of F4 and
F12), the mic gain on the K3 gets set to 1. I cannot remember this was
always this way or something has changed in either N1MM or the newer K3
configuration files.

So a couple of questions before I jump over to N1MM with a bug report; has
anyone else experience this problem? Any suggestions to check on the K3?




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[Elecraft] Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

[Jerry Knowlton]

Evening all, 

I was setting up N1MM with the K3 for the Virginia QSO party tomorrow when I
noticed the following strange behavior. 

Whenever I press any of the FKeys on N1mm (with the exception of F4 and
F12), the mic gain on the K3 gets set to 1. I cannot remember this was
always this way or something has changed in either N1MM or the newer K3
configuration files. 

So a couple of questions before I jump over to N1MM with a bug report; has
anyone else experience this problem? Any suggestions to check on the K3? 

Best regards, 

Jerry, W1IE (who is patiently awaiting the new Syth boards)

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