Re: [Elecraft] Unplugging the radio to protect it
Do I disconnect every cable? No, just Coax at the radio and power strip from the wall (which disconnects all else). The ONLY connection I don't have the ability to easily disconnect (which I'm trying to figure out) is station ground. To date I've never lost a piece of my station gear and we get LOTS of lightning storms. Most of my experience is from the past when I had a tower. Your experience with Kenwood is one of the MAJOR reasons I went with Elecraft. Every other manufacturer I've dealt with or heard about only wants to sell you product with minimal support and seem to go out of their way to make it difficult for you to get anything under warranty. Jerry Moore AE4PB, K3S - S.N. 010324 An Amatuer is - Considerate, Loyal, Progressive, Friendly, Balanced, and Patriotic. -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Peter Pauly Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2015 9:47 AM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] Unplugging the radio to protect it I had an experience a couple weeks ago where the USB audio chip in my Kenwood stopped working. Kenwood service refused to fix the problem under warranty and blamed me for not unplugging every single cable to the radio when not in use. I had only disconnected the antenna. Not the power, USB, key, etc. No other equipment was affected and the USB CAT still worked, so only one chip stopped working. The Kenwood service center even said they have had tons of people with the same problem. That experience prompted me to order a K3S and it's currently in a UPS truck somewhere between CA and IN. My questions for you guys and gals are: Do you disconnect every cable when the radio is not in use? What are Elecraft's expectations or recommendations to us? What chip does the K3S use for USB audio? How would Elecraft, the company, have handled this situation? Peter W0VLL __ 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 je...@carolinaheli.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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
I had an experience a couple weeks ago where the USB audio chip in my Kenwood stopped working. Kenwood service refused to fix the problem under warranty and blamed me for not unplugging every single cable to the radio when not in use. I had only disconnected the antenna. Not the power, USB, key, etc. No other equipment was affected and the USB CAT still worked, so only one chip stopped working. The Kenwood service center even said they have had tons of people with the same problem. That experience prompted me to order a K3S and it's currently in a UPS truck somewhere between CA and IN. My questions for you guys and gals are: Do you disconnect every cable when the radio is not in use? What are Elecraft's expectations or recommendations to us? What chip does the K3S use for USB audio? How would Elecraft, the company, have handled this situation? Peter W0VLL __ 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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
Very few hams, if any, disconnect EVERY cable from their rig when it is not in use. Having said that, it's certainly a good idea to have a common grounded entry point with suppression devices for power, antenna, phone, cable, etc. so there won't be potential differences between equipment in the event of nearby lightning. But in my opinion, making total disconnection of the equipment a condition for warranty repairs is a statement that they don't take the warranty seriously. 73, Vic, 4X6GP/K2VCO Rehovot, Israel http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ On 8 Oct 2015 16:46, Peter Pauly wrote: I had an experience a couple weeks ago where the USB audio chip in my Kenwood stopped working. Kenwood service refused to fix the problem under warranty and blamed me for not unplugging every single cable to the radio when not in use. I had only disconnected the antenna. Not the power, USB, key, etc. No other equipment was affected and the USB CAT still worked, so only one chip stopped working. The Kenwood service center even said they have had tons of people with the same problem. That experience prompted me to order a K3S and it's currently in a UPS truck somewhere between CA and IN. My questions for you guys and gals are: Do you disconnect every cable when the radio is not in use? What are Elecraft's expectations or recommendations to us? What chip does the K3S use for USB audio? How would Elecraft, the company, have handled this situation? Peter W0VLL __ 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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
I would suggest you read the manual and the warranty statement. I don't think you will find a disclaimer about removing all cables from the radio when not in use. Mel, K6KBE From: Vic Rosenthal 4X6GP/K2VCO <k2vco@gmail.com> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Thursday, October 8, 2015 7:10 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Unplugging the radio to protect it Very few hams, if any, disconnect EVERY cable from their rig when it is not in use. Having said that, it's certainly a good idea to have a common grounded entry point with suppression devices for power, antenna, phone, cable, etc. so there won't be potential differences between equipment in the event of nearby lightning. But in my opinion, making total disconnection of the equipment a condition for warranty repairs is a statement that they don't take the warranty seriously. 73, Vic, 4X6GP/K2VCO Rehovot, Israel http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ On 8 Oct 2015 16:46, Peter Pauly wrote: > I had an experience a couple weeks ago where the USB audio chip in my > Kenwood stopped working. Kenwood service refused to fix the problem under > warranty and blamed me for not unplugging every single cable to the radio > when not in use. I had only disconnected the antenna. Not the power, USB, > key, etc. No other equipment was affected and the USB CAT still worked, so > only one chip stopped working. The Kenwood service center even said they > have had tons of people with the same problem. That experience prompted me > to order a K3S and it's currently in a UPS truck somewhere between CA and > IN. > > My questions for you guys and gals are: > Do you disconnect every cable when the radio is not in use? What are > Elecraft's expectations or recommendations to us? What chip does the K3S > use for USB audio? How would Elecraft, the company, have handled this > situation? > > Peter > W0VLL __ 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 farrerfo...@yahoo.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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
No, I don't disconnect *every cable, usually just the antenna coax as itenters the shack (which, in NC, is in the basement and a coax feed-throughcomes through a concrete block and brick wall, and the disconnect pointis at the wall, 4-5m from the equipment). All equipment (except handhelds)is properly grounded, as discussed thoroughly on this list recently, and fused. I'm wondering if this "policy" of Kenwood's applies just to their amateurradio market or to all of their two-way radio market, and if it's spelled out intheir warranty verbiage, or are they hiding behind the skirts of "we'll use OURdiscretion in deciding whether to fix something under warranty or not". Frankly,I think it's hilarious to think they'd expect boaters, emergency services personnel,much less small business owners, farmers, construction workers, and the like,to disconnect every cable on their equipment when not in use. From what I've seen, Amateur Radio is but a small segment of their overallbusiness, even just their two-way radio business, never mind consumerelectronics, etc. OTOH, it also sounds like they have a particular design issuethat they need to address so as to preserve what's left of their reputation. Just my 20 millidollars' worth, N1HO On 8 Oct 2015 16:46, Peter Pauly wrote: > Do you disconnect every cable when the radio is not in use? What are > Elecraft's expectations or recommendations to 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
Re: [Elecraft] Unplugging the radio to protect it
Maybe they're relying on one of the sublaws in "The Contributions of Edsel Murphy to the Understanding of the Behavior of Inanimate Objects": " II. 3. All warranty and guarantee clauses become void upon payment of invoice." That being said, I think one of the factors in Elecraft's success is that unlike some other companies Elecraft _actually understands_ the meaning of the words "customer service." 73, Al On Thu October 8 2015 9:23:45 am Mel Farrer wrote: > I would suggest you read the manual and the warranty statement. I don't > think you will find a disclaimer about removing all cables from the radio > when not in use. Mel, K6KBE > > > From: Vic Rosenthal 4X6GP/K2VCO <k2vco@gmail.com> > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Sent: Thursday, October 8, 2015 7:10 AM > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Unplugging the radio to protect it > > Very few hams, if any, disconnect EVERY cable from their rig when it is > not in use. Having said that, it's certainly a good idea to have a > common grounded entry point with suppression devices for power, antenna, > phone, cable, etc. so there won't be potential differences between > equipment in the event of nearby lightning. > > But in my opinion, making total disconnection of the equipment a > condition for warranty repairs is a statement that they don't take the > warranty seriously. > > 73, > Vic, 4X6GP/K2VCO > Rehovot, Israel > http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ > > On 8 Oct 2015 16:46, Peter Pauly wrote: > > I had an experience a couple weeks ago where the USB audio chip in my > > Kenwood stopped working. Kenwood service refused to fix the problem under > > warranty and blamed me for not unplugging every single cable to the radio > > when not in use. I had only disconnected the antenna. Not the power, USB, > > key, etc. No other equipment was affected and the USB CAT still worked, > > so only one chip stopped working. The Kenwood service center even said > > they have had tons of people with the same problem. That experience > > prompted me to order a K3S and it's currently in a UPS truck somewhere > > between CA and IN. > > > > My questions for you guys and gals are: > > Do you disconnect every cable when the radio is not in use? What are > > Elecraft's expectations or recommendations to us? What chip does the K3S > > use for USB audio? How would Elecraft, the company, have handled this > > situation? > > > > Peter > > W0VLL > > __ > 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 farrerfo...@yahoo.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 wb5...@centurytel.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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
Peter, When I am away from home, I disconnect all antennas and unplug my power strip. When home I leave everything connected 24/7, except when there is a storm or threat of a storm. Then I disconnect antennas and my mains power strip. If that is Kenwood’s approach to customer service, I am glad I do not own any of their equipment. 73, Bob Nobis - N7RJN n7...@nobis.net > On Oct 8, 2015, at 06:46, Peter Paulywrote: > > I had an experience a couple weeks ago where the USB audio chip in my > Kenwood stopped working. Kenwood service refused to fix the problem under > warranty and blamed me for not unplugging every single cable to the radio > when not in use. I had only disconnected the antenna. Not the power, USB, > key, etc. No other equipment was affected and the USB CAT still worked, so > only one chip stopped working. The Kenwood service center even said they > have had tons of people with the same problem. That experience prompted me > to order a K3S and it's currently in a UPS truck somewhere between CA and > IN. > > My questions for you guys and gals are: > Do you disconnect every cable when the radio is not in use? What are > Elecraft's expectations or recommendations to us? What chip does the K3S > use for USB audio? How would Elecraft, the company, have handled this > situation? > > Peter > W0VLL > __ > 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 n7...@nobis.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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
It is not normal to completely disconnect a piece of station equipment like a transceiver when it's not in use. Some disconnect the antenna, but I don't. I've had K3 #24 since 2007, and the only time I worry about disconnecting is if there is convective weather activity like thunder or lightning. If there is a sign of this, I disconnect all cables from the K3 until the storm passes. Having been an Elecraft customer since 2003 (K2 days), I never heard of the company behaving in this manner towards a customer. Elecraft is more likely to bend over backwards to satisfy your needs rather than offer up excuses. Customer support and service is one of the major reasons Elecraft has done so well in the Amateur market. The other primary cause of their success is the quality and performance of their products. 73, matt W6NIA On Thu, 8 Oct 2015 09:46:37 -0400, you wrote: >I had an experience a couple weeks ago where the USB audio chip in my >Kenwood stopped working. Kenwood service refused to fix the problem under >warranty and blamed me for not unplugging every single cable to the radio >when not in use. I had only disconnected the antenna. Not the power, USB, >key, etc. No other equipment was affected and the USB CAT still worked, so >only one chip stopped working. The Kenwood service center even said they >have had tons of people with the same problem. That experience prompted me >to order a K3S and it's currently in a UPS truck somewhere between CA and >IN. > >My questions for you guys and gals are: >Do you disconnect every cable when the radio is not in use? What are >Elecraft's expectations or recommendations to us? What chip does the K3S >use for USB audio? How would Elecraft, the company, have handled this >situation? > >Peter >W0VLL >__ >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 mzil...@roadrunner.com Matt Zilmer, W6NIA -- "Always store beer in a dark place." -R. Heinlein __ 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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
I had damaged TWO FT-1000D rigs in 2001 from lightening. Both rigs were disconnected from the antenna. Both rigs were unplugged from everything EXCEPT from the ground bus and serial connector to the PC. The pc was disconnected from everything EXCEPT the modem. When the lightening hit my 40' Rohn 25 tower twice within a couple of minutes, the path was modem card in PC to rig ground. The tower and house were properly grounded. Yaesu confirmed damaged was in the serial interface. Thank goodness I don't have dial-up internet. But, watch your other opportunities for paths to ground. 73 NA1DX -- Doug Ellmore d...@ellmore.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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
*/I had an event several years ago where something hit Charter Cable several miles away the hit came in through the internet cable, hit the modem took out everything connected by Ethernet cable back to the Motorola Modem. The list includes . Motorola Modem Wifi router Magic Jack Plus Dell 8400 that was connected via the Ethernet cable And U1 I think it was on the K3 ki03 board which was connected via cable to the Dell 8400. There never was a lightning event that I saw or heard, if the Dell would have been connected to the Wire Less WIFI and not hard wired via a cable the radio and computer would have been ok. I took the ocasion to send the radio back to Elecraft and have it updated there service is better than the best I sold a house full of Yaesu gear and never looked back. Regards Art ka9zap /* __ 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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
I do not unplug anything when not in use. Never had a failure from doing that. I do live in a virtually lightning free environment but static buildup in dry winter winds can happen. This is why having a shorted RFC across antenna lead -in or back/back diodes on RX input are used. System is all grounded to central point going to outside ground rod and one tower has a ground rod for HF radial system (and tower). Many years ago I was comm officer on a BLM Wildfire sitting at Base Camp at 2400-foot on a mountain ridge in AK when a strong wind blew up in advance of a storm. We used VHF MOT HT's connected to whips mounted on 30-foot fiberglass telescoping masts (for quick deployment). Operators complained of getting shocks from the radios which I dismissed until I tried picking up one sitting on the tundra and drew a 4-inch arc - ouch! Radios totally survived this. We left the radios lying on the ground until the winds subsided. I own nothing made by Kenwood. Guess now I never will. Mostly Elecraft at the present with some older MOT and Yaesu VHF stuff. In my opinion Kenwood long ago lost out to both Icom and Yaesu...and, of course, Elecraft. I wonder if a letter to the CEO of Kenwood would have any effect. Otherwise write this up in every ham newsletter and on-line review. That works for Consumers Report. At work, I specified models when buying and we converted all to MOT over from some GE/Ericson and a few Sinclair. Reputation for quality and backing the customer. 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com "Kits made by KL7UW" Dubus Mag business: dubus...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Unplugging the radio to protect it
Hmm, this thread has got me wondering if a fiber optics telecom/tv/internet link provides some degree of protection against distant lightning strikes. Seems like it should. 73 de Eric, KG6MZS __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Unplugging the radio to protect it
On 8 October 2015 15:46:37 CEST, Peter Paulywrote: . > >My questions for you guys and gals are: >Do you disconnect every cable when the radio is not in use? What are >Elecraft's expectations or recommendations to us? What chip does the >K3S >use for USB audio? How would Elecraft, the company, have handled this >situation? > >Peter >W0VLL >__ >Elecraft mailing list >Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > >This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >Message delivered to p...@tippete.net Like many others in this thread, I disconnect only the antennas. I once lost a Cisco aironet wireless access point during a thunderstorm because the wired Ethernet cable feeding it acted as antenna for a natural EMP. I guess your case is similar. Proper bonding should help reduce the risk, according to the sages of this group :) Pf -- Pierfrancesco Caci __ 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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
Having done warranty work for Kenwood, both on commercial and amateur products, they are very "fussy" about warranty policy. From experience, every "I" and every "T" must be dotted and crossed, otherwise they most likely will reject a warranty claim. Now, there are others, such as myself, being independent dealers or service providers that can make individual exceptions to the practice/rule and in effect slide things under the wire. Yes, from my take, the amateur market is a a very small part of their business. In other words, so small that if it went away, someone would likely do without lunch for one day...that's all. Being retired, I no longer do any service work for any JA company or organization. In most cases, I have a "bad taste in my mouth" for their business practice. And to close, I spent 15 years of my professional career working in upper management for a major JA company. If one's system is properly designed and installed and maintained, there is no valid reason to disconnect anything, anytime. 73 Bob, K4TAX On 10/8/2015 10:10 AM, Bayard Coolidge, N1HO wrote: No, I don't disconnect *every cable, usually just the antenna coax as itenters the shack (which, in NC, is in the basement and a coax feed-throughcomes through a concrete block and brick wall, and the disconnect pointis at the wall, 4-5m from the equipment). All equipment (except handhelds)is properly grounded, as discussed thoroughly on this list recently, and fused. I'm wondering if this "policy" of Kenwood's applies just to their amateurradio market or to all of their two-way radio market, and if it's spelled out intheir warranty verbiage, or are they hiding behind the skirts of "we'll use OURdiscretion in deciding whether to fix something under warranty or not". Frankly,I think it's hilarious to think they'd expect boaters, emergency services personnel,much less small business owners, farmers, construction workers, and the like,to disconnect every cable on their equipment when not in use. From what I've seen, Amateur Radio is but a small segment of their overallbusiness, even just their two-way radio business, never mind consumerelectronics, etc. OTOH, it also sounds like they have a particular design issuethat they need to address so as to preserve what's left of their reputation. Just my 20 millidollars' worth, N1HO __ 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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
ALL the Ham stuff K system/ big icom survived a near strike... the antennas are disconnected at the garage entrance , where 4 10' rods are ... the stuff came in the phone line, into a phone poof across the phone guts to the other line ..magicjackpoof... into the router poof... nic card on the raid drive, main cpu MB, new 42" TV set ( now only wifi) solar array controller poof poof poof ( now getting expensive) control circuits in two 5KW solar inverters.$$$ hello insurance company. now have separate phone on the magicjack,,, and a large bank of surge(MOVs) on the phone line from verizon. and i disconnect all hdmi pwr & coax from the TV in a storm. Joys of living on a hill can't flood bill __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] unplugging the radio to protect it
*Back in 2009, I had a direct lightning hit on an antenna that was disconnected from my K3. The path to ground was over to the telephone line, computer, ethernet cable to another computer, RS232 cable and into the K3. Did a fair amount of damage. Looking back, a disconnect of ALL may have been a good ides.* *BUT, I still don't do it. :-)* *Jim - W4RKS* *-* *>Peter Pauly* ppauly at gmail.com*>Thu Oct 8 09:46:37 EDT 2015* - >I had an experience a couple weeks ago where the USB audio >chip in my >Kenwood stopped working. Kenwood service refused to fix the >problem under >warranty and blamed me for not unplugging every single cable >to the radio >when not in use. __ 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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
Folks - We're exceeding the single topic short term posting limit. Lightning protection in the shack is a recurring topic on the list and can easily be searched for in the Nabble archives at elecraft.com/elist.html Let's close the thread for now in the interest of relieving list email overload. 73, Eric /elecraft.com/ On 10/8/2015 9:40 AM, bill NY9H wrote: ALL the Ham stuff K system/ big icom survived a near strike... the antennas are disconnected at the garage entrance , where 4 10' rods are ... __ 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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
In 1980 I bought a then new Kenwood 820S which had myriad issues. Looked inside after a week and almost every solder joint on the boards were cold soldered. Contacted kenwood and they said they no longer dealt with the dealer I bought from and they would not honour the warranty. I asked a Japanese friend if she would translate a letter to Kenwood in Japan, I sent that to their headquarters and never heard back. I never bought a Kenwood anything again, went TenTec. Now I only use Elecraft and my old early 90's Alpha. 73, Gary KA1J > Having done warranty work for Kenwood, both on commercial and amateur > products, they are very "fussy" about warranty policy. --- 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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
> Folks - We're exceeding the single topic short term posting limit. Lightning > protection in the shack is a recurring topic on the list and can easily be > searched for in the Nabble archives at elecraft.com/elist.html > > Let's close the thread for now in the interest of relieving list email > overload. > 73, > Eric > /elecraft.com/ And, here I was just finishing up a 3000-word missive on the excellent unplugging methods I have employed. OK, I deleted it. I won’t add to the Elecraft list background noise except for this anti-missive. 73, phil, K7PEH __ 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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
off list because it isn't on topic. An old retired friend worked in Telcom for decades (including the shore station that AT had in Florida to connect to their subscribers in the Caribbean... He mentioned that the really LONG underground fiber links across the country (down 6-8 feet) attract lightning like crazy.. where lightning is hunting for the steel wire down the middle of the bundle that is used to find the line if there is a problem. Well, lightning finds it a LOT.. and causes a whole bunch of HOT in one spot that typically microshatters bout 1/2 mile of fiber in each direction.. or at least used to. no idea if the ZOT! on the steel wire damaged equipment at either end.. but it was a big problem. . KK4QDZ - Now with Extra Class Priv's, and a tiny KX3 to enjoy them! From: Elecraft K3 <k...@hollywoodtitle.com> To: p...@tippete.net Cc: Elecraft Reflector <Elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Sent: Thursday, October 8, 2015 12:47 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Unplugging the radio to protect it Hmm, this thread has got me wondering if a fiber optics telecom/tv/internet link provides some degree of protection against distant lightning strikes. Seems like it should. 73 de Eric, KG6MZS __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to billblomg...@yahoo.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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
With three towers top is at 170 feet above ground level. Tallest trees are about 80 feet. We do get HIT lots of times per year. I unplug NOTHING. HOWEVER every wire and anything that is metal that comes and goes from our house is protected by a Polyphaser Protective device. Buried in the yard at 100 ground rods. Each one is 8 feet. Spaced at 16 foot intervals as a Triangle between the three towers plus radial strips outward from the towers to at least 1/3rd the total height. Plus perimeter ground around the house. As you have seen leave just one little wire someplace that isn't protected and POOF as they say damage to lots of things can happen. Consider the today many Ham Stations are remotely operated as is my station. No way to disconnect and reconnect. So it is either fix the stuff so it doesn't blow up or else deal with the consequences. If you haven't already seen it this is a video a friend took at my place a week or so ago when we installed a new Low Band Receiving antenna. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXvRrummVFY John k9uwa John Goller, K9UWA & Jean Goller, N9PXF Antique Radio Restorations k9...@arrl.net Visit our Web Site at: http://www.JohnJeanAntiqueRadio.com 4836 Ranch Road Leo, IN 46765 USA 1-260-637-6426 __ 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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
In addition to disconnecting all antenna cables and the single AC power cord for all but my remote base radio (not connected to any other shack gear), I unplug AC power and the DSL cord to my MODEM/router. I lost the previous router (and many other devices) during a lightning strike years ago. CAT5 cable conducts quite well! 73, Bill, K8TE -- Cheers, Bill __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Unplugging the radio to protect it
> "Elecraft" == Elecraft K3writes: Elecraft> Hmm, this thread has got me wondering if a fiber optics Elecraft> telecom/tv/internet link provides some degree of Elecraft> protection against distant lightning strikes. Elecraft> Seems like it should. Yes, but the problem is your internal wiring. Even if you invest in a switch with optical ports (they come cheap on the used market), and you put an optical port in your main desktop PC, there are a lot of devices that only have copper. What killed my access point was a ligthning strike at some distance coupling to a ~4 m long ethernet cable connecting the AP to the switch. Incidentally, fiber would help get rid of those nice carriers polluting 12 and 10 m. Pf -- Pierfrancesco Caci, ik5pvx __ 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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
Lighning ! There but for the grace of 'Good Luck' go I... 73, Deni - F5VJC On 8 October 2015 at 22:50, drewkowrote: > During active periods of lightning I sometimes disconnect everything from > my K3, including headphones and key. I turn off my computer and disconnect > everything from it also (ethernet cables seem especially prone to nearby > lightning strikes). > > When in use they are powered through heavy series-mode surge protectors > (i.e. big inductors), vs sacrificial MOV shunts. > > 73, > Drew > AF2Z > > > > > On 10/08/15 09:46, Peter Pauly wrote: > >> I had an experience a couple weeks ago where the USB audio chip in my >> Kenwood stopped working. Kenwood service refused to fix the problem under >> warranty and blamed me for not unplugging every single cable to the radio >> when not in use. I had only disconnected the antenna. Not the power, USB, >> key, etc. No other equipment was affected and the USB CAT still worked, so >> only one chip stopped working. The Kenwood service center even said they >> have had tons of people with the same problem. That experience prompted me >> to order a K3S and it's currently in a UPS truck somewhere between CA and >> IN. >> >> My questions for you guys and gals are: >> Do you disconnect every cable when the radio is not in use? What are >> Elecraft's expectations or recommendations to us? What chip does the K3S >> use for USB audio? How would Elecraft, the company, have handled this >> situation? >> >> Peter >> W0VLL >> __ >> > __ > 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 foxfive@gmail.com > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Unplugging the radio to protect it
Eric:I am a big believer in UPS's that will run on an external battery. Or I modifythe old UPS's to run on a battery. Stoplots of spikes and other nasty things on power lines. My K line run all on UPS'sand with external batteries. AN ALWAYS DISCONNECT ANTENNAS. I use polyphasers too but I had several of them burn out caused by lighting an surewouldn't have wanted to have had anything hooked up to them when the blew. Very good advice Eric.Bill Hudson, W0WFHex. cellular and two way field tech.Linn, Mo. 65051 From: Eric Ross <kb...@evross.com> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Thursday, October 8, 2015 2:35 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Unplugging the radio to protect it On my computer equipment, including routers/switches, I have become a very strong advocate of putting a full UPS between the wall and the device. When I say full UPS I mean one that is always sourcing the device from the battery and not directly being fed from the primary source. The drawback of this is that they use a step-wise approximation of AC on the output. I haven't tried it directly with my K3 to see what noise gets through, but my computer, which is right next to it is not emitting anything worth noting. This way both power and network are relatively protected coming into my computers. I don't have any phone lines connected to the computers either. All my voice via the computer is through the network. The only route into the K3 is then the primary power supply and the antenna. I have also plan to put a battery between the power supply and the radio just for backup power needs as well which will then narrow it down to the antenna as the primary energy source. Eric kb7td On Thu, Oct 8, 2015, at 12:34 PM, Eric Ross wrote: > On my computer equipment, including routers/switches, I have become a > very strong advocate of putting a full UPS between the wall and the > device. > When I say full UPS I mean one that is always sourcing the device from > the battery and not directly being fed from the primary source. The > drawback > of this is that they use a step-wise approximation of AC on the output. > I haven't tried it directly with my K3 to see what noise gets > through, but my computer, which is right next to it is not emitting > anything worth noting. This way both power and network are relatively > protected coming into my computers. I don't have any phone lines > connected to the computers either. All my voice via the computer is > through the network. The only route into the K3 is then the primary > power supply > and the antenna. I have also plan to put a battery between the power > supply and > the radio just for backup power needs as well which will then narrow it > down to the antenna as the primary energy source. > > Eric > kb7td > > On Thu, Oct 8, 2015, at 12:02 PM, Pierfrancesco Caci wrote: > > >>>>> "Elecraft" == Elecraft K3 <k...@hollywoodtitle.com> writes: > > > > > > Elecraft> Hmm, this thread has got me wondering if a fiber optics > > Elecraft> telecom/tv/internet link provides some degree of > > Elecraft> protection against distant lightning strikes. > > Elecraft> Seems like it should. > > > > Yes, but the problem is your internal wiring. Even if you invest in a > > switch with optical ports (they come cheap on the used market), and you > > put an optical port in your main desktop PC, there are a lot of devices > > that only have copper. What killed my access point was a ligthning strike > > at > > some distance coupling to a ~4 m long ethernet cable connecting the AP > > to the switch. > > > > Incidentally, fiber would help get rid of those nice carriers polluting > > 12 and 10 m. > > > > Pf > > > > -- > > Pierfrancesco Caci, ik5pvx > > __ > > 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 kb...@evross.com > > > -- > Eric Ross -- Eric kb7td __ 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 w0...@yahoo.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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
During active periods of lightning I sometimes disconnect everything from my K3, including headphones and key. I turn off my computer and disconnect everything from it also (ethernet cables seem especially prone to nearby lightning strikes). When in use they are powered through heavy series-mode surge protectors (i.e. big inductors), vs sacrificial MOV shunts. 73, Drew AF2Z On 10/08/15 09:46, Peter Pauly wrote: I had an experience a couple weeks ago where the USB audio chip in my Kenwood stopped working. Kenwood service refused to fix the problem under warranty and blamed me for not unplugging every single cable to the radio when not in use. I had only disconnected the antenna. Not the power, USB, key, etc. No other equipment was affected and the USB CAT still worked, so only one chip stopped working. The Kenwood service center even said they have had tons of people with the same problem. That experience prompted me to order a K3S and it's currently in a UPS truck somewhere between CA and IN. My questions for you guys and gals are: Do you disconnect every cable when the radio is not in use? What are Elecraft's expectations or recommendations to us? What chip does the K3S use for USB audio? How would Elecraft, the company, have handled this situation? Peter W0VLL __ __ 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] Unplugging the radio to protect it
I usually disconnect antennas when away but keep the power connected. Last time going for a month-long vacation I disconnected all power. After reconnecting, there was a loud bang and Expert 2k-fa was gone. Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. Ignacy, NO9E -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Unplugging-the-radio-to-protect-it-tp7608830p7608841.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Unplugging the radio to protect it
This thread and the 'disconnecting equipment' thread were closed earlier this morning. 73, Eric Moderator /elecraft.com/ On 10/8/2015 11:12 AM, Ignacy wrote: I usually disconnect antennas when away but keep the power connected. Last time going for a month-long vacation I disconnected all power. After reconnecting, there was a loud bang and Expert 2k-fa was gone. Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. Ignacy, NO9E -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Unplugging-the-radio-to-protect-it-tp7608830p7608841.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 Message delivered to eric.swa...@elecraft.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Unplugging the radio to protect it
On my computer equipment, including routers/switches, I have become a very strong advocate of putting a full UPS between the wall and the device. When I say full UPS I mean one that is always sourcing the device from the battery and not directly being fed from the primary source. The drawback of this is that they use a step-wise approximation of AC on the output. I haven't tried it directly with my K3 to see what noise gets through, but my computer, which is right next to it is not emitting anything worth noting. This way both power and network are relatively protected coming into my computers. I don't have any phone lines connected to the computers either. All my voice via the computer is through the network. The only route into the K3 is then the primary power supply and the antenna. I have also plan to put a battery between the power supply and the radio just for backup power needs as well which will then narrow it down to the antenna as the primary energy source. Eric kb7td On Thu, Oct 8, 2015, at 12:34 PM, Eric Ross wrote: > On my computer equipment, including routers/switches, I have become a > very strong advocate of putting a full UPS between the wall and the > device. > When I say full UPS I mean one that is always sourcing the device from > the battery and not directly being fed from the primary source. The > drawback > of this is that they use a step-wise approximation of AC on the output. > I haven't tried it directly with my K3 to see what noise gets > through, but my computer, which is right next to it is not emitting > anything worth noting. This way both power and network are relatively > protected coming into my computers. I don't have any phone lines > connected to the computers either. All my voice via the computer is > through the network. The only route into the K3 is then the primary > power supply > and the antenna. I have also plan to put a battery between the power > supply and > the radio just for backup power needs as well which will then narrow it > down to the antenna as the primary energy source. > > Eric > kb7td > > On Thu, Oct 8, 2015, at 12:02 PM, Pierfrancesco Caci wrote: > > > "Elecraft" == Elecraft K3writes: > > > > > > Elecraft> Hmm, this thread has got me wondering if a fiber optics > > Elecraft> telecom/tv/internet link provides some degree of > > Elecraft> protection against distant lightning strikes. > > Elecraft> Seems like it should. > > > > Yes, but the problem is your internal wiring. Even if you invest in a > > switch with optical ports (they come cheap on the used market), and you > > put an optical port in your main desktop PC, there are a lot of devices > > that only have copper. What killed my access point was a ligthning strike > > at > > some distance coupling to a ~4 m long ethernet cable connecting the AP > > to the switch. > > > > Incidentally, fiber would help get rid of those nice carriers polluting > > 12 and 10 m. > > > > Pf > > > > -- > > Pierfrancesco Caci, ik5pvx > > __ > > 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 kb...@evross.com > > > -- > Eric Ross -- Eric kb7td __ 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