Re: [Elecraft] K3 Error Codes

[Gary Hembree]

There is a table of error codes starting on page 68 of the latest K3 
Owner's Manual, version D10.


You can download a pdf of this manual at
https://ftp.elecraft.com/K3/Manuals%20Downloads/E740107%20K3%20Owner's%20man%20D10.pdf

73
Gary, N7IR
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 no transmitting

[Jorge Diez - CX6VM]

Robert

thanks very much!!

73,
Jorge

El jue, 9 may 2024 a las 10:35, Robert Bajuk () escribió:

> Hi Jorge,
>
> Try this source
>
> https://groups.io/g/Elecraft-K3/topic/replacing_k3_lpa_devices/18108669
>
> 73 Robert, S57AW
>
> On Thu, 9 May 2024, 15:08 Jorge Diez - CX6VM, 
> wrote:
>
>> hello!
>>
>> I have a friend that is trying to get to LPA on the K3
>>
>> Really it needs to disassemble practically all the K3 or there's a way to
>> get to this LPA plaque easily?
>>
>> I will appreciate if you can point me to some video about how to
>> disassemble the K3 to get to LPA
>>
>> thanks!!
>>
>> 73,
>> Jorge
>> CX6VM/CW5W
>>
>> El vie, 8 mar 2024 a las 17:26, Robert Bajuk ()
>> escribió:
>>
>>> Hi Jorge,
>>>
>>> Check D1 first and parts around on 10W LPA boars as already suggested
>>>
>>> See the pics attached, LPA board and D1 marked with red, hope pics pass
>>> over the reflector
>>>
>>> 73 Robert, S57AW
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Mar 8, 2024 at 8:31 PM Jorge Diez - CX6VM 
>>> wrote:
>>>
 thanks Steve

 Could you please point me to the assembly manual page to find it?

 Mine is factory assembled, but I need to fix it here in my country, I
 need
 to try

 Thanks very much!

 73,
 Jorge
 CX6VM/CW5W

 El vie, 8 mar 2024 a las 13:32, Steve Cooke ()
 escribió:

 > Jorge . my K3 displayed the same fault sometime ago .Turned out to
 > be D1 on the LPA a very fine hairline crack in the solder joint
 > ...without Keith Trinity W6ER's advice in a previous reply to somebody
 > else , I would never have found it .
 >
 >  It was only visible under a bright light ...and a
 > magnifying glass .
 >
 >  73 steve G1MPW.
 >
 >
 > On 08/03/2024 13:58, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
 > > hello
 > >
 > > My newer K3 is not TX anymore, on any mode, CW, SSB, FT8
 > >
 > >
 > __
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 --
 73,
 Jorge
 CX6VM/CW5W
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>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>> 73,
>> Jorge
>> CX6VM/CW5W
>>
>

-- 
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 no transmitting

[Robert Bajuk]

Hi Jorge,

Try this source

https://groups.io/g/Elecraft-K3/topic/replacing_k3_lpa_devices/18108669

73 Robert, S57AW

On Thu, 9 May 2024, 15:08 Jorge Diez - CX6VM,  wrote:

> hello!
>
> I have a friend that is trying to get to LPA on the K3
>
> Really it needs to disassemble practically all the K3 or there's a way to
> get to this LPA plaque easily?
>
> I will appreciate if you can point me to some video about how to
> disassemble the K3 to get to LPA
>
> thanks!!
>
> 73,
> Jorge
> CX6VM/CW5W
>
> El vie, 8 mar 2024 a las 17:26, Robert Bajuk ()
> escribió:
>
>> Hi Jorge,
>>
>> Check D1 first and parts around on 10W LPA boars as already suggested
>>
>> See the pics attached, LPA board and D1 marked with red, hope pics pass
>> over the reflector
>>
>> 73 Robert, S57AW
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 8, 2024 at 8:31 PM Jorge Diez - CX6VM 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> thanks Steve
>>>
>>> Could you please point me to the assembly manual page to find it?
>>>
>>> Mine is factory assembled, but I need to fix it here in my country, I
>>> need
>>> to try
>>>
>>> Thanks very much!
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Jorge
>>> CX6VM/CW5W
>>>
>>> El vie, 8 mar 2024 a las 13:32, Steve Cooke ()
>>> escribió:
>>>
>>> > Jorge . my K3 displayed the same fault sometime ago .Turned out to
>>> > be D1 on the LPA a very fine hairline crack in the solder joint
>>> > ...without Keith Trinity W6ER's advice in a previous reply to somebody
>>> > else , I would never have found it .
>>> >
>>> >  It was only visible under a bright light ...and a
>>> > magnifying glass .
>>> >
>>> >  73 steve G1MPW.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On 08/03/2024 13:58, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
>>> > > hello
>>> > >
>>> > > My newer K3 is not TX anymore, on any mode, CW, SSB, FT8
>>> > >
>>> > >
>>> > __
>>> > Elecraft mailing list
>>> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
>>> >
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>>> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> > Message delivered to cx6vm.jo...@gmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> 73,
>>> Jorge
>>> CX6VM/CW5W
>>> __
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>>
>>
>
> --
> 73,
> Jorge
> CX6VM/CW5W
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 no transmitting

[Jorge Diez - CX6VM]

hello!

I have a friend that is trying to get to LPA on the K3

Really it needs to disassemble practically all the K3 or there's a way to
get to this LPA plaque easily?

I will appreciate if you can point me to some video about how to
disassemble the K3 to get to LPA

thanks!!

73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W

El vie, 8 mar 2024 a las 17:26, Robert Bajuk () escribió:

> Hi Jorge,
>
> Check D1 first and parts around on 10W LPA boars as already suggested
>
> See the pics attached, LPA board and D1 marked with red, hope pics pass
> over the reflector
>
> 73 Robert, S57AW
>
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 8, 2024 at 8:31 PM Jorge Diez - CX6VM 
> wrote:
>
>> thanks Steve
>>
>> Could you please point me to the assembly manual page to find it?
>>
>> Mine is factory assembled, but I need to fix it here in my country, I need
>> to try
>>
>> Thanks very much!
>>
>> 73,
>> Jorge
>> CX6VM/CW5W
>>
>> El vie, 8 mar 2024 a las 13:32, Steve Cooke ()
>> escribió:
>>
>> > Jorge . my K3 displayed the same fault sometime ago .Turned out to
>> > be D1 on the LPA a very fine hairline crack in the solder joint
>> > ...without Keith Trinity W6ER's advice in a previous reply to somebody
>> > else , I would never have found it .
>> >
>> >  It was only visible under a bright light ...and a
>> > magnifying glass .
>> >
>> >  73 steve G1MPW.
>> >
>> >
>> > On 08/03/2024 13:58, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
>> > > hello
>> > >
>> > > My newer K3 is not TX anymore, on any mode, CW, SSB, FT8
>> > >
>> > >
>> > __
>> > Elecraft mailing list
>> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
>> >
>> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> > Message delivered to cx6vm.jo...@gmail.com
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> 73,
>> Jorge
>> CX6VM/CW5W
>> __
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>> Message delivered to rba...@gmail.com
>
>

-- 
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Sub RX Not Working

[Keith Trinity WE6R]

As Rick said;
Go into config MENU KRX3, set it to BNC or ATU depending on how the rear 
antenna coax is cabled, then exit the menu and cycle power.

Keith WE6R K3 / K4 Tech
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Sub RX Not Working

[Rick NK7I]

Check the menu setting?  Not Inst?

73,
Rick nk7i


On 4/17/2024 8:39 PM, Robie Elms wrote:

Dave,

Mark sure you do not have the AUX antenna selected for your sub receiver.
Push and Hold the RX ANT button and change it from Main to AUX or vice
versa.  This selection is band sensitive.

Robie AJ4F

On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 10:07 PM H D Barr  wrote:


My K3 (non-S) is equipped with the second rx, which I rarely use.  After
infrequent use (got a K4) the sub rx seems to have stopped functioning;
no signal or noise  can be heard from it. When the "Sub" button is
tapped, "No Sub" appears in the display. The main rx and tx functions
seem normal.  Before I open up the K3 to see if any cables have come
loose, I am searching for more obvious (or easier to check) possible
reasons, including operator error.  Any ideas are welcome.

Thanks and 73.

Dave, K2YG

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Sub RX Not Working

[Robie Elms]

Dave,

Mark sure you do not have the AUX antenna selected for your sub receiver.
Push and Hold the RX ANT button and change it from Main to AUX or vice
versa.  This selection is band sensitive.

Robie AJ4F

On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 10:07 PM H D Barr  wrote:

> My K3 (non-S) is equipped with the second rx, which I rarely use.  After
> infrequent use (got a K4) the sub rx seems to have stopped functioning;
> no signal or noise  can be heard from it. When the "Sub" button is
> tapped, "No Sub" appears in the display. The main rx and tx functions
> seem normal.  Before I open up the K3 to see if any cables have come
> loose, I am searching for more obvious (or easier to check) possible
> reasons, including operator error.  Any ideas are welcome.
>
> Thanks and 73.
>
> Dave, K2YG
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 or k3s wanted

[Larry Shapiro]

Hello,
I have about 11 to choose from,
Larry K6RO

From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  on 
behalf of Eckhart via Elecraft 
Sent: Monday, April 1, 2024 7:42 PM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net 
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 or k3s wanted

Hi
I am looking for a k3 or k3s. 100 watts version with ATU.

Eckhart, DK2LJ


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Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 TX problem on 20m

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

Hi Paul,

I'd say that our respective KPA3A TX Gain calibration
values are similar enough.  Having not had the
bipolar PA model KPA3, I don't have a point of
reference for whether your TX gain parameter
values are reasonable or not.

I would contact Elecraft Support and copy
Keith, WE6R  with
a request for their troubleshooting document
dealing with 'low TX output power.'  I don't
have a copy and only learned of its existence
by Keith mentioning it in another post.  I don't
think it's posted on the Elecraft public pages.

73,
Mike, K8CN
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 no transmitting

[Jorge Diez - CX6VM]

thanks Steve

Could you please point me to the assembly manual page to find it?

Mine is factory assembled, but I need to fix it here in my country, I need
to try

Thanks very much!

73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W

El vie, 8 mar 2024 a las 13:32, Steve Cooke ()
escribió:

> Jorge . my K3 displayed the same fault sometime ago .Turned out to
> be D1 on the LPA a very fine hairline crack in the solder joint
> ...without Keith Trinity W6ER's advice in a previous reply to somebody
> else , I would never have found it .
>
>  It was only visible under a bright light ...and a
> magnifying glass .
>
>  73 steve G1MPW.
>
>
> On 08/03/2024 13:58, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
> > hello
> >
> > My newer K3 is not TX anymore, on any mode, CW, SSB, FT8
> >
> >
> __
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-- 
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 TX problem on 20m

[dyno lab]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the gain information.
I am going to look at the the gain numbers and see if there is any correlation 
with the wildly different input impedances to the output lowpass filters.

For reference, I found the input Z to the filters to be as follows:
160: 63.8 +J1.6
80:  35.7 +J5.1
40:  42.0 +J5.8
20:  32.0 -J2.1
17:  51.0 +J3.1
15:  49.6 -J0.3
10:  60.4 -J2.9
6:   51.0 +J0.14

Looking at the component values of the output filters, it appears that the 
above impedances were by design. Which makes me wonder if it was an attempt to 
compensate for the poor saturation characteristics of the MOSFETs and leakage 
inductance of the output transformer of the MOSFET amplifier (KPA3A)?

I am also finding in some cases that the K3s LPA (KLPA3A) has some problems of 
its own and does not like to play nicely with the input to the LDMOS K3s 
Retrofit Amplifier on 160 meters.
I would however like to avoid redesigning LPA by compensating for its 
shortcomings in the LDMOS amplifier.

Thanks again for your feedback.
73,
Hal
W7YNC  


> On 03/06/2024 3:07 PM PST Michael Carter via Elecraft 
>  wrote:
> 
>  
> Hi Paul,
> 
> For comparison, here are the 50 watt TX gain values from the
> calibration I did last November when I installed
> the KPA3A 100 watt PA in my K3 (s/n 67xx):
> 
> 1900 kHz TXGain HP  10
> 3750 kHz TXGain HP  06
> 5336 kHz TXGain HP  08
> 7150 kHz TXGain HP  08
> 10125 kHz TXGain HP  08
> 14200 kHz TXGain HP  05
> 18110 kHz TXGain HP  05
> 21200 kHz TXGain HP  03
> 24930 kHz TXGain HP  03
> 29000 kHz TXGain HP  05
> 52000 kHz TXGain HP  04
> 
> Do you know if your 100 watt PA module
> uses RF bipolar transistors or MOSFETs
> (the KPA3A uses MOSFETs; the original KPA3
> uses bipolars)?
> I don't know if the MOSFET version has higher gain
> than the bipolars, but I suspect not.
> 
> I've been in a separate conversation
> with Hal, W7YNC, who is an LDMOS RF amplifier
> designer professionally.  There is some
> uncertainty about whether the higher TX gain
> parameters mean higher TX drive signal
> amplitude or the converse.
> 
> In any event, your TX gain values don't
> have wild swings from band to band,
> although the difference between 20
> meter and 30 meter gains is substantial.
> 
> Perhaps some others who have done
> TX gain calibrations recently (or could
> repeat them) on K3 units with the
> bipolar PA transistors could post
> their results?
> 
> 73,
> Mike, K8CN
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 no transmitting

[Steve Cooke]

Jorge . my K3 displayed the same fault sometime ago .Turned out to 
be D1 on the LPA a very fine hairline crack in the solder joint 
...without Keith Trinity W6ER's advice in a previous reply to somebody 
else , I would never have found it .


            It was only visible under a bright light ...and a 
magnifying glass .


                        73 steve G1MPW.


On 08/03/2024 13:58, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:

hello

My newer K3 is not TX anymore, on any mode, CW, SSB, FT8



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 no transmitting

[Jorge Diez - CX6VM]

Hi Ken

is not in test mode. I checked it

thanks!

Jorge

El vie, 8 mar 2024 a las 11:28,  escribió:

> Make sure your K3 didn't get put in "Test" mode, shown by a flashing "TX"
> toward the right side of the display.
>
> 73,
> Ken, KJ9B
>
> -Original Message-
> From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net 
> On
> Behalf Of Jorge Diez - CX6VM
> Sent: Friday, March 8, 2024 8:59 AM
> To: Howard K6IA Elecraft Support ; Elecraft
> Reflector 
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 no transmitting
>
> hello
>
> My newer K3 is not TX anymore, on any mode, CW, SSB, FT8
>
> The reception is OK, I can listen without problem, all buttons works OK, I
> cal also decode in FT8
>
> But when I want to transmit, no RF output, on any mode
>
> I do TUNE and the display show two lines ( _ _ ) and 0 W
>
> We used it in ARRLDX CW and it was working properly. Then I connected to
> remoterig for the remote station, I think we did some QSOs with no proble.
> other day I wanted to use it and noticed that it was not transmitting
>
> Any idea what could be wrong?
>
> thanks in advance!!
>
> --
> 73,
> Jorge
> CX6VM/CW5W
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> delivered to ken.k...@gmail.com
>
>

-- 
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 no transmitting

[ken.kj9b]

Make sure your K3 didn't get put in "Test" mode, shown by a flashing "TX"
toward the right side of the display.

73,
Ken, KJ9B

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On
Behalf Of Jorge Diez - CX6VM
Sent: Friday, March 8, 2024 8:59 AM
To: Howard K6IA Elecraft Support ; Elecraft
Reflector 
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 no transmitting

hello

My newer K3 is not TX anymore, on any mode, CW, SSB, FT8

The reception is OK, I can listen without problem, all buttons works OK, I
cal also decode in FT8

But when I want to transmit, no RF output, on any mode

I do TUNE and the display show two lines ( _ _ ) and 0 W

We used it in ARRLDX CW and it was working properly. Then I connected to
remoterig for the remote station, I think we did some QSOs with no proble.
other day I wanted to use it and noticed that it was not transmitting

Any idea what could be wrong?

thanks in advance!!

--
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Fault 6 and loss of power control

[Mike Cizek W0VTT]

Hello Pete,

This happens to my K3S regularly.  After it spent WAY too much time back at the 
mother ship three years ago without them being able to reproduce the fault (RSA 
#10260, in case Keith is reading this), I was finally able to narrow down the 
cause.  

I can reproduce the fault by going from FL2 to FL3, FL3 to FL4 or by exiting 
the QRQ mode.  This makes me think it may be a firmware problem.  I'm running 
v5.67, the most recent version.  I can't figure out how to force a load of an 
earlier version to see if that cures the problem.

Has anyone else experienced this?  I can't be the only one.

---
73,
Mike Cizek WØVTT

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
Behalf Of Pete Smith N4ZR
Sent: Wednesday, 6 March, 2024 22:12
To: Elecraft List 
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Fault 6 and loss of power control

Today I started seeing this in my K3 driving a KPA-1500.  It only needs around 
30-34 watts to drive it to full power on CW, but when I set the K3's power to 
that, and everything looks fine, occasionally the K3 displays Fault 6 on its 
panel and causes the KPA-1500 to fault, displaying 65 watts input on the amp's 
display and well over 1500 watts on the power bargraph.

I can't find any reference to Fault 6 in the manual for the K3 - can anyone 
clue me in?  Is something dying in the K3?

--
73, Pete N4ZR
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Fault 6 and loss of power control

[Dick Dievendorff]

Check the KPA1500 fault log with the KPA1500 Utility.  It’s probably fault code 
60, and amp fault codes 6x are displayed on the K3 as fault 6.

7e de Dick, K6KR

> On Mar 6, 2024, at 21:13, Pete Smith N4ZR  wrote:
> 
> Today I started seeing this in my K3 driving a KPA-1500.  It only needs 
> around 30-34 watts to drive it to full power on CW, but when I set the K3's 
> power to that, and everything looks fine, occasionally the K3 displays Fault 
> 6 on its panel and causes the KPA-1500 to fault, displaying 65 watts input on 
> the amp's display and well over 1500 watts on the power bargraph.
> 
> I can't find any reference to Fault 6 in the manual for the K3 - can anyone 
> clue me in?  Is something dying in the K3?
> 
> -- 
> 73, Pete N4ZR
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Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 TX problem on 20m

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

Hi Paul,

For comparison, here are the 50 watt TX gain values from the
calibration I did last November when I installed
the KPA3A 100 watt PA in my K3 (s/n 67xx):

1900 kHz TXGain HP  10
3750 kHz TXGain HP  06
5336 kHz TXGain HP  08
7150 kHz TXGain HP  08
10125 kHz TXGain HP  08
14200 kHz TXGain HP  05
18110 kHz TXGain HP  05
21200 kHz TXGain HP  03
24930 kHz TXGain HP  03
29000 kHz TXGain HP  05
52000 kHz TXGain HP  04

Do you know if your 100 watt PA module
uses RF bipolar transistors or MOSFETs
(the KPA3A uses MOSFETs; the original KPA3
uses bipolars)?
I don't know if the MOSFET version has higher gain
than the bipolars, but I suspect not.

I've been in a separate conversation
with Hal, W7YNC, who is an LDMOS RF amplifier
designer professionally.  There is some
uncertainty about whether the higher TX gain
parameters mean higher TX drive signal
amplitude or the converse.

In any event, your TX gain values don't
have wild swings from band to band,
although the difference between 20
meter and 30 meter gains is substantial.

Perhaps some others who have done
TX gain calibrations recently (or could
repeat them) on K3 units with the
bipolar PA transistors could post
their results?

73,
Mike, K8CN

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Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 TX problem on 20m

[Masadaman via Elecraft]

I don't want to be here

Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer 
 
  On Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 9:15 AM, Paul Kent wrote:   
My K3/100 gives a high DC current warning when transmitting on 20m with power 
settings above 75 watts. Maximum output is about 80 watts and is unstable. All 
other bands perform normally with full 100w output and normal current draw. (50 
ohm dummy load) I have done the TX gain and wattmeter calibrations, finding no 
issues and with no change in symptoms. The output LPF is shared with 30m and I 
replaced all the capacitors in that circuit, also with no change in symptoms. 
Any ideas on what may be causing this problem?
Paul, K0PK
Sent from Mail for Windows

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Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 TX problem on 20m

[Masadaman via Elecraft]

This thread sucks...

Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer 
 
  On Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 11:29 AM, Michael Carter via 
Elecraft wrote:   Hi Hal,

The numbers themselves have meaning to the
DACs inside the K3, but in terms of actual
units I don't know.  The key thing is that as
those values are increased, the drive levels
from the TX DACs are increased, though I
don't know if the relationship is a linear one.

The gains of the LPA and PA stage transistors
fall off at higher frequencies, so one might
expect TX Gain parameters on those bands
to be somewhat higher than on the low bands.
However, if two immediately adjacent bands
have very different TX gain parameter values,
the likelihood is that something is amiss
in one of the filters (either BPF or LPF) and
the associated relays that select the filters.

73,
Mike, K8CN

From: dyno lab 
Sent: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 11:19 AM
To: Michael Carter ; Michael Carter via Elecraft 

Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 TX problem on 20m

[You don't often get email from dyno...@comcast.net. Learn why this is 
important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]

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Do the TX gain parameter numbers have meaning such as dB or are they just 
relative numbers ?

73,
Hal
W7YNC


> On 03/05/2024 6:35 AM PST Michael Carter via Elecraft 
>  wrote:
>
>
> Hi Paul,
>
> Could you please post the TX gain parameters
> recorded by the K3 Utility at the 50 watt level
> for all bands?
>
> If there is a significant difference in those gain
> parameter values between adjacent bands (say
> 30 and 17 meters) and the value on the 20
> meter band, that may be an additional clue.
>
> The bandpass filter bank may be at issue here
> since you've checked the appropriate LPF.
> If there's a problem with the relay contacts
> on the relevant BPF or LPF section, that may
> also reduce the TX signal level and force
> an elevated TX Gain parameter value for that
> band.
>
> Keith, WE6R has a checklist of steps to
> try when diagnosing low TX output power.
> I recall he said to contact supp...@elecraft.com
> for that document.
>
> 73,
> Mike, K8CN
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Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 TX problem on 20m

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

Hi Hal,

The numbers themselves have meaning to the
DACs inside the K3, but in terms of actual
units I don't know.  The key thing is that as
those values are increased, the drive levels
from the TX DACs are increased, though I
don't know if the relationship is a linear one.

The gains of the LPA and PA stage transistors
fall off at higher frequencies, so one might
expect TX Gain parameters on those bands
to be somewhat higher than on the low bands.
However, if two immediately adjacent bands
have very different TX gain parameter values,
the likelihood is that something is amiss
in one of the filters (either BPF or LPF) and
the associated relays that select the filters.

73,
Mike, K8CN

From: dyno lab 
Sent: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 11:19 AM
To: Michael Carter ; Michael Carter via Elecraft 

Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 TX problem on 20m

[You don't often get email from dyno...@comcast.net. Learn why this is 
important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the University System. Do not 
click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the 
content is safe.


Do the TX gain parameter numbers have meaning such as dB or are they just 
relative numbers ?

73,
Hal
W7YNC


> On 03/05/2024 6:35 AM PST Michael Carter via Elecraft 
>  wrote:
>
>
> Hi Paul,
>
> Could you please post the TX gain parameters
> recorded by the K3 Utility at the 50 watt level
> for all bands?
>
> If there is a significant difference in those gain
> parameter values between adjacent bands (say
> 30 and 17 meters) and the value on the 20
> meter band, that may be an additional clue.
>
> The bandpass filter bank may be at issue here
> since you've checked the appropriate LPF.
> If there's a problem with the relay contacts
> on the relevant BPF or LPF section, that may
> also reduce the TX signal level and force
> an elevated TX Gain parameter value for that
> band.
>
> Keith, WE6R has a checklist of steps to
> try when diagnosing low TX output power.
> I recall he said to contact supp...@elecraft.com
> for that document.
>
> 73,
> Mike, K8CN
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Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 TX problem on 20m

[dyno lab]

Do the TX gain parameter numbers have meaning such as dB or are they just 
relative numbers ?

73,
Hal
W7YNC


> On 03/05/2024 6:35 AM PST Michael Carter via Elecraft 
>  wrote:
> 
>  
> Hi Paul,
> 
> Could you please post the TX gain parameters
> recorded by the K3 Utility at the 50 watt level
> for all bands?
> 
> If there is a significant difference in those gain
> parameter values between adjacent bands (say
> 30 and 17 meters) and the value on the 20
> meter band, that may be an additional clue.
> 
> The bandpass filter bank may be at issue here
> since you've checked the appropriate LPF.
> If there's a problem with the relay contacts
> on the relevant BPF or LPF section, that may
> also reduce the TX signal level and force
> an elevated TX Gain parameter value for that
> band.
> 
> Keith, WE6R has a checklist of steps to
> try when diagnosing low TX output power.
> I recall he said to contact supp...@elecraft.com
> for that document.
> 
> 73,
> Mike, K8CN
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Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 TX problem on 20m

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

Hi Paul,

Could you please post the TX gain parameters
recorded by the K3 Utility at the 50 watt level
for all bands?

If there is a significant difference in those gain
parameter values between adjacent bands (say
30 and 17 meters) and the value on the 20
meter band, that may be an additional clue.

The bandpass filter bank may be at issue here
since you've checked the appropriate LPF.
If there's a problem with the relay contacts
on the relevant BPF or LPF section, that may
also reduce the TX signal level and force
an elevated TX Gain parameter value for that
band.

Keith, WE6R has a checklist of steps to
try when diagnosing low TX output power.
I recall he said to contact supp...@elecraft.com
for that document.

73,
Mike, K8CN
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Sub-RX Deaf on One Band

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

I'm glad that one was relatively easy to resolve, Pete.
No hardware intervention required - sigh of relief.
Joe is a wealth of knowledge!

73,
Mike, K8CN
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Sub-RX Deaf on One Band

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

Hi Mike - W4TV told me about that switching the Sub RX antenna between 
the normal input and the Aux jack on the back, which I had never known 
about. All's well now, until the next Gremlin arrives.


73, Pete N4ZR

On 1/24/2024 6:35 PM, Michael Carter via Elecraft wrote:

Hi Pete,

If you've confirmed that the RX ANT is NOT selected
on the 80 meter band for the sub-RX,  I would
check the CONFIG entry for the KRX3 to be sure
that it's not selecting the AUX RF input.  It might
have been selected inadvertently if you used
BSET to change the sub-RX settings.

73,
Mike, K8CN


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Sub-RX Deaf on One Band

[Rick NK7I]

Did you check the filter settings (or filter) on the sub?

73,
Rick nk7i


On 1/24/2024 3:35 PM, Michael Carter via Elecraft wrote:

Hi Pete,

If you've confirmed that the RX ANT is NOT selected
on the 80 meter band for the sub-RX,  I would
check the CONFIG entry for the KRX3 to be sure
that it's not selecting the AUX RF input.  It might
have been selected inadvertently if you used
BSET to change the sub-RX settings.

73,
Mike, K8CN


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Sub-RX Deaf on One Band

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

Hi Pete,

If you've confirmed that the RX ANT is NOT selected
on the 80 meter band for the sub-RX,  I would
check the CONFIG entry for the KRX3 to be sure
that it's not selecting the AUX RF input.  It might
have been selected inadvertently if you used
BSET to change the sub-RX settings.

73,
Mike, K8CN


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Sub-RX Deaf on One Band

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

Yep - I tried to check that sort of thing, which I have been known to 
do.  The sub-RX , on this one band, acts like it is disconnected from 
the antenna.


73, Pete N4ZR

On 1/23/2024 8:52 PM, Gary K9GS wrote:

RX antenna activated on 80m?



73,

Gary K9GS


 Original message 
From: Pete Smith N4ZR 
Date: 1/23/24 8:42 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: Elecraft List 
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Sub-RX Deaf on One Band

This afternoon I worked TX5S split on 10 and 15.  Tonight, I was hearing
him very well on 80, but to my surprise my SubRX seems to have gone deaf
on that band.  I've verified that it's still working fine on all other
HF bands, including 160, but for some reason no 80.  The main RX and the
transmitter are still fine on 80, which might help track it down if I
knew what I was doing.  Any ideas?

  --
73, Pete N4ZR
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Sub-RX Deaf on One Band

[Gary K9GS]

RX antenna activated on 80m?73,Gary K9GS
 Original message From: Pete Smith N4ZR  
Date: 1/23/24  8:42 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: Elecraft List 
 Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Sub-RX Deaf on One Band This 
afternoon I worked TX5S split on 10 and 15.  Tonight, I was hearing him very 
well on 80, but to my surprise my SubRX seems to have gone deaf on that band.  
I've verified that it's still working fine on all other HF bands, including 
160, but for some reason no 80.  The main RX and the transmitter are still fine 
on 80, which might help track it down if I knew what I was doing.  Any ideas?  
--73, Pete 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3+KPA500+KAT500 RFI Revisited

[Jack Brindle via Elecraft]

Please describe the aux cables you have in use between the equipment. It is 
highly unusual for the BCD lines to change state during transmission, on any 
other time without actually changing the band on the K3.
If you are using very long Aux cables, or have other equipment connected to the 
cable (that uses the Band lines), it could account for issues. There is at 
least one band decoder kit on the market that uses
poorly designed receivers that will adversely affect the band lines in a K3 or 
K4 system to the point that the KPA receives incorrect band indication.

Are you directly monitoring the band lines with an external indicator? If so, 
please describe the indicator.
The KPA _will_ change bands due to a signal on another band (such as a 
harmonic). We have not seen that to this point with K3 or K4, but it is 
certainly possible. Not that the RF signal count always overrides the band 
signals - it counts the strongest signal at its input.

This situation may be due to RFI, but I am suspecting something else at 
present, such as very long AuxBus cables or an issue in the system. Any further 
info you can provide would be very helpful - is there another transmitter near 
by, or anything else that may be injecting alternate signals into the amplifier 
(usually on the xcvr input side, but if strong enough it could come in through 
the antenna). Note that a very strong signal coming into the antenna port would 
also affect the SWR calculations and display.

Something is going on, but it may surprise you when you discover it.

73,
Jack, W6FB


> On Jan 12, 2024, at 2:18 PM, Jeff Wandling  wrote:
> 
> Dear Elecraft aficionados:
> 
> The symptom is KPA switching bands during Tx.
> 
> Seems like a while ago I was troubleshooting the RFI problem between the 
> equipment.
> 
> K3 + KPA500 + KAT500
> 
> Using the "enhanced" configuration where serial cable between the K3 to KAT 
> to KPA assisted in communicating band changes as well as key-down event and 
> so on.
> 
> I own two KPA-500's. Both are less than 6mo old.
> 
> Let me refer to them as KPA-1 and KPA-2. KPA-1 is in the hands of Elecraft 
> for repair. It worked flawlessly (until needing repair), but the RFI issue I 
> will write about did not exist when that KPA-1 was in the chain.
> 
> KPA-2 was purchased in December as a backup. Since putting KPA-2 in-line, the 
> RFI problems I will describe have gone unresolved.
> 
> Scenario is with KPA-2 in-line.
> 
> Even running tiny power (< 10W, <15 W) I can routinely and 100% reproduce the 
> problem where the BCD data in the AUX line that carries the information about 
> which band the KPA should be set on will change during Tx.
> 
> For example I can put KAT into MAN, put KPA in bypass. Tune the antenna via 
> K3 and witness the search resolve to a 1:1 on the SWR. That sometimes will 
> trigger the effect -- I can see in the KPA, even in bypass that the band the 
> KPA is set on is changed from the band the K3 is set on. Even more insidious 
> is that if the KPA winds up on a different band after the tune (or after 
> "VVV" CW testing after tune), that pressing the band button on the KPA to 
> bring it back does not bring the KPA back to the right band. It is as if the 
> KPA has two states of band-awareness.. The awareness of the band displayed in 
> the LCD and the band that the input is set for.
> 
> Here's an example:
> K3 on 40m
> Tune per usual (KAT MANUAL, KPA Bypass)
> KPA remains on 40m.
> K3 power output 14W
> Then put the KPA into Operate
> Tap "VVV" out on the key.
> Witness the KPA operate but then switch band to 30m or 17m or 20m, etc.. (not 
> expected)
> Then on the KPA tap (Band) 7 (for the 40m band) and nothing happens (not 
> expected)
> Tap on the KPA 14 then the whole chain switches to 20m (expected)
> 
> Suppose the TUNE did not yield a band-switch during Tx, repeating the test 
> but this time putting the KPA into Operate after the tune is sure-fire going 
> to cause the bandswitch.
> 
> (I configured the KPA to go to Bypass in the event of a band-change event in 
> order to have some sense of protection while the key-down test Tx occurs).
> 
> That's the scenario where after Tx the KPA is out of sync with the K3. 
> Whether or not the KPA is attempting to frequency-count is not evident, the 
> KPA:RADIO setting is "K3" which means leverage the BCD data from the K3 
> vis-a-vis the KAT path.
> 
> I can replicate this band-inconsistency at will. I don't think I can safely 
> operate the equipment if the BCD encoded band data is fluctuating during Tx. 
> What would happen if I switched bands (N1MM) and hit the keyer and the KPA 
> got confused on the last Tx? Magic smoke I imagine.
> 
> Only happened with KPA-2 not KPA-1. But I'm wondering if KPA-1 suffered a 
> catastrophe caused by this scenario and I didn't notice the clicking 
> band-switch because I had not expected it to switch bands during Tx.
> 
> What have I done to remedy? I think I've tried everything but obviously I 
> 

Re: [Elecraft] K3+KPA500+KAT500 RFI Revisited

[Jim Brown]

On 1/12/2024 12:18 PM, Jeff Wandling wrote:

Seems like a while ago I was troubleshooting the RFI problem between the 
equipment.


Is everything in your home and your station properly bonded and grounded?
Is every chassis on your operating desk bonded together?
Is the operating desk common point bonded to all the grounds in your home?
http://k9yc.com/GroundingAndAudio.pdf
Are there arrestors on all of your antennas, and are they bonded to the 
other grounds?
Are there serious ferrite chokes at the feedpoint of every antenna? A 
serious ferrite choke is one of these.

http://k9yc.com/2018Cookbook.pdf
If you're using any form of end-fed antenna, including a vertical, does 
it have radials or a counterpoise?


There's one other mechanism that I'm aware of, having been a beta tester 
for KA500 years ago. When running two radios with amps and tuners, their 
frequency-detecting circuitry for station #1 while in receive can get 
enough RF from station #2 transmitting to switch to station #2's band. 
This depends primarily on how close the antennas for the two stations 
are to each other and how much power we're running. This is very old 
info, from the early days of KAT500, and may have been minimized by 
later versions of firmware.


73, Jim K9YC
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Re: [Elecraft] K3+KPA500+KAT500 RFI Revisited

[Walter Underwood]

Before replacing cables or adding ferrites, I would make sure that all the 
chassis are bonded together with short runs of heavy gauge wire. Differences in 
ground potentials between equipment can make a mess of things.

For more info, get the book on grounding and bonding from the ARRL.

https://www.arrl.org/grounding-and-bonding-for-the-amateur

wunder
K6WRU
Walter Underwood
CM87wj
http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)

> On Jan 12, 2024, at 12:18 PM, Jeff Wandling  wrote:
> 
> Dear Elecraft aficionados:
> 
> The symptom is KPA switching bands during Tx.
> 
> Seems like a while ago I was troubleshooting the RFI problem between the 
> equipment.
> 
> K3 + KPA500 + KAT500
> 
> Using the "enhanced" configuration where serial cable between the K3 to KAT 
> to KPA assisted in communicating band changes as well as key-down event and 
> so on.
> 
> I own two KPA-500's. Both are less than 6mo old.
> 
> Let me refer to them as KPA-1 and KPA-2. KPA-1 is in the hands of Elecraft 
> for repair. It worked flawlessly (until needing repair), but the RFI issue I 
> will write about did not exist when that KPA-1 was in the chain.
> 
> KPA-2 was purchased in December as a backup. Since putting KPA-2 in-line, the 
> RFI problems I will describe have gone unresolved.
> 
> Scenario is with KPA-2 in-line.
> 
> Even running tiny power (< 10W, <15 W) I can routinely and 100% reproduce the 
> problem where the BCD data in the AUX line that carries the information about 
> which band the KPA should be set on will change during Tx.
> 
> For example I can put KAT into MAN, put KPA in bypass. Tune the antenna via 
> K3 and witness the search resolve to a 1:1 on the SWR. That sometimes will 
> trigger the effect -- I can see in the KPA, even in bypass that the band the 
> KPA is set on is changed from the band the K3 is set on. Even more insidious 
> is that if the KPA winds up on a different band after the tune (or after 
> "VVV" CW testing after tune), that pressing the band button on the KPA to 
> bring it back does not bring the KPA back to the right band. It is as if the 
> KPA has two states of band-awareness.. The awareness of the band displayed in 
> the LCD and the band that the input is set for.
> 
> Here's an example:
> K3 on 40m
> Tune per usual (KAT MANUAL, KPA Bypass)
> KPA remains on 40m.
> K3 power output 14W
> Then put the KPA into Operate
> Tap "VVV" out on the key.
> Witness the KPA operate but then switch band to 30m or 17m or 20m, etc.. (not 
> expected)
> Then on the KPA tap (Band) 7 (for the 40m band) and nothing happens (not 
> expected)
> Tap on the KPA 14 then the whole chain switches to 20m (expected)
> 
> Suppose the TUNE did not yield a band-switch during Tx, repeating the test 
> but this time putting the KPA into Operate after the tune is sure-fire going 
> to cause the bandswitch.
> 
> (I configured the KPA to go to Bypass in the event of a band-change event in 
> order to have some sense of protection while the key-down test Tx occurs).
> 
> That's the scenario where after Tx the KPA is out of sync with the K3. 
> Whether or not the KPA is attempting to frequency-count is not evident, the 
> KPA:RADIO setting is "K3" which means leverage the BCD data from the K3 
> vis-a-vis the KAT path.
> 
> I can replicate this band-inconsistency at will. I don't think I can safely 
> operate the equipment if the BCD encoded band data is fluctuating during Tx. 
> What would happen if I switched bands (N1MM) and hit the keyer and the KPA 
> got confused on the last Tx? Magic smoke I imagine.
> 
> Only happened with KPA-2 not KPA-1. But I'm wondering if KPA-1 suffered a 
> catastrophe caused by this scenario and I didn't notice the clicking 
> band-switch because I had not expected it to switch bands during Tx.
> 
> What have I done to remedy? I think I've tried everything but obviously I 
> have a gap -- otherwise I'd have solved this problem.
> 
> - New coax between everything.
> - Shorter or longer coax, different coax (RG-213, 8X, LMR-240, etc..)
> - Tighter loops (6 -8") when there is excess coax or lazy big loops where 
> there is excess coax.
> - New connectors/adapters (Yes, Amphenol)
> - Re-route coax different ways. Avoid this, that and the other, etc.. 
> Permutations of routing.
> - Move and adjust placement of equipment. KAT near the KPA, KAT away from the 
> KPA, both near or away from the K3, etc..
> - Chokes between things. K3 to KPA, KPA to KAT, KAT to antenna system
> - Non-bleeding chokes, bleeding chokes.
> - Ferrite on serial cables, more ferrite, insane amounts of ferrite, or zero 
> ferrite
> - Move the position of serial cables above, below, up, down, left, right.
> 
> I haven't got to the point of putting little tangerines on altars and burning 
> incense. I'm trying to keep a positive mood while part of me wants to take up 
> the art of Bonsai and raking the sand.
> 
> Obviously RFI is a likely culprit, but I'll be damned if I can figure out 
> where it is -- or rather why it would be 

Re: [Elecraft] K3 UTILITY QUESTION

[Alan D. Wilcox]

Greg, did you set CONFIG:RS232 to USB?

Cheers, Alan

Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K3S-10457, SKCC 22955)
570-916-9590 (cell, text)
https://WilcoxEngineering.com
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/6768  ... Elecraft Client Comments
http://amazon.com/author/alandwilcox
Williamsport, PA 17701

On 1/11/24 10:17, greg best wrote:

I had previously used my K3 utility program with my K3 that had the standard 
analog I/O board module.  I recently upgraded to the KIO3B and now my k3 
utility no longer functions.  All the functions on the KIO3B work fine.  What 
is necessary to get the K3 utility running again? I do not need it for anything 
specific right now but I feel now is the time to fix it so when it is needed it 
works.

  


73’s,

Greg N9GB

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Re: [Elecraft] K3/0 Mini and P3.?

[Ed W0YK]

No.73,Ed W0YK
 Original message From: Josep via Elecraft 
 Date: 1/11/24  07:06  (GMT-08:00) To: Elecraft 
Reflector  Subject: [Elecraft] K3/0 Mini and P3.? 
Howdy.!Is there a possibility to connect a P3 to a K3/0 Mini..?Thanks.73, 
JosepEA6BFBUG #256  -  CWOps #3072  -  FOC #2182 (ex 1724)  -  
CTDXCC__Elecraft 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 SUB-RX audio

[evert]

Tnx Joe!

That was the solution.

73, Evert PA2KW


-Original Message-
From: Joe Subich, W4TV  
Sent: Saturday, 6 January 2024 15:23
To: ev...@pa2kw.com; Elecraft 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 SUB-RX audio


In Windows Sound Control Panel ... select the Recording tab then select 
"microphone (USB Audio CODEC)" - the KIO3B ...
select the Advanced tab and make sure Default Format is to "2 ch, 16 bit, 48000 
Hz (DVD Quality)"

73,

... Joe, W4TV


On 1/6/2024 2:11 AM, ev...@pa2kw.com wrote:
> Setup was:
> 
> * K3 with SUB-RX and MicroHam MKII
> * ANT 1 = TX antenna, RX-ANT (BNC) = Receive antenna.
> 
>   
> 
> When using the SUB-RX (I think even in Diversity mode), with JTDX I 
> was able to “listen” to the Left audio channel which was the SUB-RX 
> (receive antenna)
> 
>   
> 
> A while ago I installed the KIO3B board. All seems to work fine but….
> 
> Whatever I try to change, I’m not able to “listen” to the SUB-RX with JTDX 
> anymore.
> 
> I do hear both receivers in my headphone Main = Right ear, Sub = Left ear.
> 
> Is the Audio Codec signal a MONO channel or is it a setting in the K3 I 
> didn’t think of?
> 
>   
> 
> Any help appreciated.
> 
>   
> 
> 73, Evert PA2KW
> 
>   
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 SUB-RX audio

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

In Windows Sound Control Panel ... select the Recording tab
then select "microphone (USB Audio CODEC)" - the KIO3B ...
select the Advanced tab and make sure Default Format is
to "2 ch, 16 bit, 48000 Hz (DVD Quality)"

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV


On 1/6/2024 2:11 AM, ev...@pa2kw.com wrote:

Setup was:

*   K3 with SUB-RX and MicroHam MKII
*   ANT 1 = TX antenna, RX-ANT (BNC) = Receive antenna.

  


When using the SUB-RX (I think even in Diversity mode), with JTDX I was able to 
“listen” to the Left audio channel which was the SUB-RX (receive antenna)

  


A while ago I installed the KIO3B board. All seems to work fine but….

Whatever I try to change, I’m not able to “listen” to the SUB-RX with JTDX 
anymore.

I do hear both receivers in my headphone Main = Right ear, Sub = Left ear.

Is the Audio Codec signal a MONO channel or is it a setting in the K3 I didn’t 
think of?

  


Any help appreciated.

  


73, Evert PA2KW

  


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 circuit breaker

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

Hi Mark,

The high current condition on the KPA3 (or KPA3A, if newer K3) PA module may 
arise from a problem in one of the lowpass filter sections if it's not purely 
an external fault condition.

If you have the internal KAT3 ATU, you could try putting a dummy load on the 
2nd antenna port and occasionally loading up into that load on the bands on 
which you have observed the overcurrent condition.  If that pops the DC 
breaker, that's a sure sign a problem exists in one or more of the lowpass 
filters.

I would also check for connector intermittents outside of the K3 antenna 
connector(s).
If you have a transient fault in one of the coax connectors downstream of the 
rig, you could draw too much current for a short time, sufficient to pop the 
breaker.  I'm leaning toward this possible cause as a first line of 
investigation - the possible fault in one or more lowpass filters is a less 
probable cause.

73,
Mike, K8CN
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Re: [Elecraft] K3/0-mini or equivalent for HF-mobile use

[Chester Latawiec]

I have a K3/0 (not mini) for sale.  $750 shipped.
W2NHA

Get Outlook for Android

From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  on 
behalf of Andy via Elecraft 
Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2023 8:04:01 AM
To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 
Subject: [Elecraft] K3/0-mini or equivalent for HF-mobile use

Hi , I hope this is the right group to ask



I would like to use  a K3S for my HF mobile (CW) operation positioned in the
trunk of the car.

1.  Is it possible controlling it only with one shielded control cable
to a K3/0-min (light weight), installed near the dashboard?
2.  If so , were can I find such a K3/0-mini used ? Price?



Tnx, Cu, vy 73 de Andy

HB9CVQ, DK2VQ, AK4IG



 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 displayed power out is incorrect

[Keith Trinity WE6R]

Hi Gary;
Look in from with the top off at the RF board where the KAT3 or KANT3 
board plugs in.
Check T4 for darkening, it gets cooked if DC is applied to the antenna 
connector (like a remote preamp power connected backwards or similar).

You mentioned a remote tuner? Does it get power up the coax?
T4 is our# E690126, FT37-61x2,18T #26,PREWND


Also we went to beefier D36 somewhere in the early serial # range. 
Suggest shotgun replacing them if you don't find anything burnt.

They are on the bottom just opposite the KAT3/KANT3.
Our part # E560048 BAS70 Diode, 70V, SOT23 Infineon  BAS 70 E6327    
Digi-Key    BAS70INTR-ND


You mentioned arcing, if in the K3, it is most likely the SA1 spark 
arrestor on the KAT3 or KANT3 board.

With the top off, watch for it glowing when running higher power.
Our #   E980130  SURGE ARSTR,350VDC,800V PULSE    Digikey 495-1879-ND

When you get it fixed, you will want to run the TX gain cal again, and 
after that, remember to never transmit at exactly 1.0MW, 5.0 or 50watts!
It will cause an inadvertent manual TX gain cal that can mess up the 
gain cal.

Keith WE6R K3/K4 Tech
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 displayed power out is incorrect

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

Hi Gary,

The K3 computes forward and reflected power
from samples taken in the SWR bridge circuit.
A Tif X Gain calibration could fail because the
forward power reading is incorrect due to
a failure in that portion of the SWR bridge
circuit.

Do you have the KAT3 ATU in your K3?
If so, be sure that you select BYPASS
using the ATU TUNE button on the
front panel.  The K3 Utility will do this
automatically on each band if
you run a TX Gain Calibration via the
Utility.

Unfortunately, with the exception of two
51 ohm bridge termination resistors on the top side of the RF board,
the remaining bridge components are on the underside
of that board.  You can access them by removing
the rear bottom cover, but DO NOT key the transmitter
while the cover is off because it will kill the driver
transistors in the Low Power Amp assembly.

I would check diodes D36 and D37 on the RF
board first, which form the RF detectors for the
forward and reverse power metering circuits, respectively.
Those diodes are DC forward biased and should show a
forward voltage drop of perhaps 0.3-0.4 V when
sitting idle (transmitter NOT keyed).

If those diodes are OK, then it gets more tricky to
troubleshoot the SWR bridge without access to
the bottom side of the RF board (DO put the rear
bottom cover back in place before any further
testing proceeds!).  This is where Keith, WE6R,
the K3/K4 super-tech at Elecraft, should be
consulted about other possible failures in the
SWR bridge circuit.  There may be vias accessible
on the top side of the RF board that would enable
you to measure the VFWD and VREFL voltages
from U16 (op amp unity gain buffers), but I don't
know that level of detail without opening up
my K3 for careful inspection.

73,
Mike, K8CN


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Erratic receive

[Mark Musick]

Hi Pete,
The gold pins did not appear as part of production until somewhere around 
serial #4100.
I had K3 Serial #3505 and had to have the front panel pins upgraded to the gold 
standard.

73,
Mark, WB9CIF

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
Behalf Of Pete Smith N4ZR
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2023 20:35
To: Elecraft List 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Erratic receive

Hi Bill - I'm pretty sure my radio is late enough so that it has the upgraded 
pins that were introduced to deal with that problem, but thanks for responding.

73, Pete N4ZR

On 11/29/2023 3:28 PM, Bill Johnson wrote:
> Pete,  have  the front panel pins corroded?  There is an upgrade
> available.
>
> Bill
> K9YEQ
> --
> --
> *From:* elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
>  on behalf of Pete Smith N4ZR
> 
> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 29, 2023 1:11:14 PM
> *To:* Elecraft List 
> *Subject:* [Elecraft] K3 - Erratic receive My 2400-serial number K3
> has begun to have a sporadic receive problem, which has gotten much
> worse recently.  It's really weird.
>
> What happens is this - the receiver sporadically loses most of its
> audio output level, until I move the AF pot a couple of degrees either
> way, at which point it immediately restores the audio.  Often, but not
> always, this occurs right after a transmission (on CW), so I was
> initially suspecting a failing relay, but the way it responds to a
> minute change in the AF level setting makes me think something subtler. Any 
> ideas?
>
> --
> 73, Pete N4ZR
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Erratic receive

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

+1 for what Brian, K0DTJ suggested!

The front panel buttons use a similar
voltage divider with a multiplexed
A/D converter to determine which button
has been depressed.

73,
Mike, K8CN
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Erratic receive

[Brian Hunt]

According to the schematics, those two double pots on the front panel are 
merely voltage dividers. They provide 0 to 5v signals to the front panel MCU 
which controls the function, eg: AF_GAIN. It’s possible the pot has developed a 
dropout right at the point where you usually set the AF level. Maybe turning 
the pot stop to stop a half dozen times will improve it??  Worth a try. 

73,
Brian, K0DTJ

> On Nov 29, 2023, at 12:12, Pete Smith N4ZR  wrote:
> 
> My 2400-serial number K3 has begun to have a sporadic receive problem, which 
> has gotten much worse recently.  It's really weird.
> 
> What happens is this - the receiver sporadically loses most of its audio 
> output level, until I move the AF pot a couple of degrees either way, at 
> which point it immediately restores the audio.  Often, but not always, this 
> occurs right after a transmission (on CW), so I was initially suspecting a 
> failing relay, but the way it responds to a minute change in the AF level 
> setting makes me think something subtler.  Any ideas?
> 
> --
> 73, Pete N4ZR
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Erratic receive

[Bill Johnson]

You're most welcome!

Bill
K9YEQ

From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  on 
behalf of Pete Smith N4ZR 
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2023 1:34:40 PM
To: Elecraft List 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Erratic receive

Hi Bill - I'm pretty sure my radio is late enough so that it has the
upgraded pins that were introduced to deal with that problem, but thanks
for responding.

73, Pete N4ZR

On 11/29/2023 3:28 PM, Bill Johnson wrote:
> Pete,  have  the front panel pins corroded?  There is an upgrade
> available.
>
> Bill
> K9YEQ
> 
> *From:* elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
>  on behalf of Pete Smith N4ZR
> 
> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 29, 2023 1:11:14 PM
> *To:* Elecraft List 
> *Subject:* [Elecraft] K3 - Erratic receive
> My 2400-serial number K3 has begun to have a sporadic receive problem,
> which has gotten much worse recently.  It's really weird.
>
> What happens is this - the receiver sporadically loses most of its audio
> output level, until I move the AF pot a couple of degrees either way, at
> which point it immediately restores the audio.  Often, but not always,
> this occurs right after a transmission (on CW), so I was initially
> suspecting a failing relay, but the way it responds to a minute change
> in the AF level setting makes me think something subtler. Any ideas?
>
> --
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> __
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Erratic receive

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

Hi Bill - I'm pretty sure my radio is late enough so that it has the 
upgraded pins that were introduced to deal with that problem, but thanks 
for responding.


73, Pete N4ZR

On 11/29/2023 3:28 PM, Bill Johnson wrote:
Pete,  have  the front panel pins corroded?  There is an upgrade 
available.


Bill
K9YEQ

*From:* elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net 
 on behalf of Pete Smith N4ZR 


*Sent:* Wednesday, November 29, 2023 1:11:14 PM
*To:* Elecraft List 
*Subject:* [Elecraft] K3 - Erratic receive
My 2400-serial number K3 has begun to have a sporadic receive problem,
which has gotten much worse recently.  It's really weird.

What happens is this - the receiver sporadically loses most of its audio
output level, until I move the AF pot a couple of degrees either way, at
which point it immediately restores the audio.  Often, but not always,
this occurs right after a transmission (on CW), so I was initially
suspecting a failing relay, but the way it responds to a minute change
in the AF level setting makes me think something subtler. Any ideas?

--
73, Pete N4ZR
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Erratic receive

[Bill Johnson]

Pete,  have  the front panel pins corroded?  There is an upgrade available.

Bill
K9YEQ

From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  on 
behalf of Pete Smith N4ZR 
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2023 1:11:14 PM
To: Elecraft List 
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - Erratic receive

My 2400-serial number K3 has begun to have a sporadic receive problem,
which has gotten much worse recently.  It's really weird.

What happens is this - the receiver sporadically loses most of its audio
output level, until I move the AF pot a couple of degrees either way, at
which point it immediately restores the audio.  Often, but not always,
this occurs right after a transmission (on CW), so I was initially
suspecting a failing relay, but the way it responds to a minute change
in the AF level setting makes me think something subtler.  Any ideas?

--
73, Pete N4ZR
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Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Spinning VFO B very quickly shuts down K3

[Keith Trinity WE6R]

Hi Al;
Strange, check for corrupt FPF, here are my notes.
Keith WE6R K3/K4 Tech
Corrupt FPF, confirmed by looking at the Config menu item “XV1” then 
tapping 9 and looking for strange entries for XV9, RF or IF usually have 
weird values,  (144 and 28 are the default).

Check that ADC ref is NOT 4.00, see next item.
Fix: EE-INIT (parameter initialization) then Re-load FPF and re-load 
known good config file (check XV9 after) . Or setup and calibrate. DO 
NOT JUST SET THE XVTR ENTRIES TO DEFAULT! They are an indicator the FPF 
is corrupt, not the cause of it. And just setting them to default will 
NOT fix the corruption.
If still problems, EE INIT (set to 38400) then reload ALL FW then EE 
INIT again.
Associated; ADC ref showing 4.00 is FUBAR! We have seen this during 
extreme FW rev loading jumps.
Fix; Set to 5.00 or set precisely measuring pin 2 of the ACCY connector. 
Valid #s are 4.75 thru 5.25.


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 usage

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

Hi Paul,

Glad the TX Gain calibration fixed the ATU issue.
Always thankful for the 'no soldering/de-soldering
fixes required!'

73,
Mike, K8CN
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 usage

[Paul Wilton]

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
>> __
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> 
> 
> 
> --
> 
> 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

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

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


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Resistor Values

[Jim Brown]

Schematics are on their website.

73, Jim K9YC

On 11/15/2023 5:20 AM, sem...@semaos.plus.com wrote:

Can anyone tell me where I can get the values of Resistor R81 on the K3S RF
Board please?



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Resistor Values

[M Cresap via Elecraft]

 Chris

The value is stated on the schematic for the K3S RF board, downloadable from 
the Elecraft website at 
https://ftp.elecraft.com/K3S/Manuals%20Downloads/E740323%20K3s%20Schematic%20Files.pdf
 
A quick PDF search on R81 will take you to 3 different parts labeled R81 in the 
schematic. Pick the one on the "K3 RF Board, sheet 3 of 4".
73, Mike, W3IP


On Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 08:31:18 AM EST, sem...@semaos.plus.com 
 wrote:  
 
 Can anyone tell me where I can get the values of Resistor R81 on the K3S RF
Board please?

 

TIA

Chris G0TZZ

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Resistor Values

[George Danner]

R81 = 100 on the Elecraft K3s schematic for the RF Board.

73 George AI4VZ

On Wed, Nov 15, 2023 at 8:48 AM Paul Van Dyke 
wrote:

> Errr   not being a smartass ... Have you asked Elecraft?
> Knowing their workload .. it might not be a 2 minute reply
>
> Paul KB9AVO
>
> On Wed, Nov 15, 2023 at 7:21 AM  wrote:
> >
> > Can anyone tell me where I can get the values of Resistor R81 on the K3S
> RF
> > Board please?
> >
> >
> >
> > TIA
> >
> > Chris G0TZZ
> >
> > __
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Resistor Values

[Paul Van Dyke]

Errr   not being a smartass ... Have you asked Elecraft?
Knowing their workload .. it might not be a 2 minute reply

Paul KB9AVO

On Wed, Nov 15, 2023 at 7:21 AM  wrote:
>
> Can anyone tell me where I can get the values of Resistor R81 on the K3S RF
> Board please?
>
>
>
> TIA
>
> Chris G0TZZ
>
> __
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 low temperature VFO tuning oddity - clicking relay

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

Email copied below is from a post I made
in response to Jim, K9YC on the elecraft...@groups.io
forum.  This email has some additional observations
made early this morning.  The shack temperature
was a New Hampshire-balmy 54F/12C.

73,
Mike, K8CN

-- begin copied email ---
Thanks, Jim.  Your suggestions had come
to mind earlier from my recollection of your
wise counsel to the various forums I read
daily.

Alas, the odd behavior I reported originally
occurs without any transmission at all - just
powered up the K3 in a cold room, started
tuning the band (any band) and heard the
relay clicking irregularly when either VFO A
or VFO B knobs are rotated across a few kHz to
tens of kHz.  Anomalous behavior is independent
of tuning rate.

To see if I could isolate which relay(s) is (are)
being activated by the VFO tuning, I went into
the CONFIG menu, disabled both the PA module
(KPA3A) and the ATU (KAT3),  powered down and
then powered back up.  If the Front Panel temperature
is at or below ~ 16C, then the relay clicking while tuning
either VFO A or VFO B persists until the Front Panel
temperature rises enough, then the clicking no longer
occurs.  The PA Temperature was fixed at about 13C,
its cold start-up temperature, because I did not transmit
or enable the ATU auto-tune.

It appears that the relay clicking may be emanating
from the LPF section on the RF board.  I listened carefully
with one ear in the open top of the K3 over the BPF section,
and those relays are not changing while tuning across a
single band.   With the LPF section of
the board now largely covered by the KPA3A PA module,
I can't put a finger on individual relays to see if one
particular relay is the source of the clicking.  I may
pull the PA module and replace the jumper block
to test whether this behavior is innate to the K3/10
configuration, but I'm loathe to do that until necessary.

One more observation: I've noticed on my P3 display
that when the relay clicks while tuning either VFO A
or VFO B, there is a narrow (in time) flat green line displayed
on the waterfall.  However, when I use the band switch to
change bands, the P3 waterfall shows a much wider dark
band until the IF signal is restored.

Operationally, the clicking is only annoying for the 15 minutes
or so it takes the Front Panel to warm up even if the room
temperature remains frosty (54F/12C) while I'm doing these
experiments.  Once the Front Panel is above 17C, I can't get
the relay clicking to occur while tuning either VFO A or VFO B.

I may try reloading the firmware when the rig is warm - my
prior MCU firmware version in the K3/10 was only one step
removed from the most current version (5.67), and the
DSP and FPF codes were already at the most recent versions.
I am wondering if there is a communication issue on the
serial control line from the MCU to the LPF relay controllers
that goes away as the MCU gets warm?

Thanks for the ideas, and 73,

Mike, K8CN

-- end copied email ---
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 low temperature VFO tuning oddity - clicking relay

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

Hi Pete,

I originally posted my observations to both
the official Elecraft reflector and the elecraft...@groups.io
forum.  Until your response on the official reflector
there had been only two responses on the other forum.
I posted additional observations this morning on the
groups.io forum - if you're not monitoring that forum,
I will copy them here.

73,
Mike, K8CN
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 low temperature VFO tuning oddity - clicking relay

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

I'll be interested to hear what you learn, Mike.  I don't have an ATU in 
my K-3, but I feed a KPA-1500, and when I QSY quickly (for example when 
pouncing on spots), I hear relays click in the amp's ATU.  I assume this 
is a function of QSYing from one ATU zone to another, every 10 or 20 KHZ 
(except on 10M, where it's 100).  It does this whether I'm transmitting 
or not.


I wonder if the firmware update you installed added this behavior to 
your K-3. I can see where it might be a good thing to adjust the ATU 
before you transmit, even if just a few milliseconds before.


73, Pete N4ZR

On 11/12/2023 2:59 PM, Michael Carter via Elecraft wrote:

I've been getting reacquainted with my K3 (S/N 67XX)
since adding the 100 watt PA module (KPA3A) last
weekend.  I also updated the firmware to the latest
versions and ran the TX Gain Calibration successfully
at all three power levels.  The K3/10 had been sitting
disconnected from everything since maybe 2019 when
I used it to test the XV432 transverter I built.

In operating in the early mornings this past week
I observed an odd clicking of a relay as I tuned
VFO A.  Additional experimentation revealed that
VFO B would also produce the sporadic relay
clicking while tuning that control. There was no
apparent pattern to the clicking, i.e. no regular
frequency interval at which clicks occurred.

In both instances the relay clicking disappeared after
a brief warm-up period.  I confirmed this behavior
again by leaving the shack heat off and the rig off
for a couple hours.  The Front Panel temperature and
PA Temperature both registered 12C on a cold start
(yes, it is New Hampshire on a fall day), and the
anomalous relay clicking on tuning either VFO A
or VFO B ceased once the Front Panel temperature
rose above 17C.  This behavior was never observed
in many years of operating the K3/10 in contests
and general DXing, and the shack was plenty cold
through those fall and winter mornings until the
heat kicked up.

I'll open the top cover and determine which relay
is being activated during the cold start-up.  Both VFO
encoders go directly to the Front Panel MCU
with no intervening circuitry save for connectors
and printed wiring.

At first I thought the relay clicking might be from
the internal KAT3 ATU, but this behavior occurs in
RX mode with no effort to transmit or activate
ATU TUNE.  It occurs with the ATU bypassed as
well as in-circuit.  I'm now wondering if the
MCU developed a low temperature sensitivity
during its long hiatus from daily use?

Has anyone seen this kind of low temperature
relay clicking when tuning the receiver right after
a cold start?

Thanks in advance, and 73,
Mike, K8CN
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Display flashes "thr 4 OFF" intermittently

[Dave Fugleberg]

Thanks Fred -
When I get time, I might just pull the radio out of the rack and
remove/reset those pins...
Yeah, in the 'olden days'  (mid 80s in my case) I was a bench tech fixing
dumb terminals from airports, among other things..they were connected to
each other in a daisy-chained serial 'party line'.  I could usually tell
how strong the lightning-induced surge was by how many components were
blown and how charred the circuit board was...

73 de W0ZF

On Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 1:34 PM Fred Jensen  wrote:

> Much of the K3 functionality as a radio is analog on the main RF board
> [well, except for the DSP of course].  I believe that many [most?] of the
> signals on the Coveted Golden Connector Pins are digital chatter between
> the brains and the other parts of the radio that tell them what to do but
> don't affect the functionality.  i.e. it might go to the wrong band, or
> BAND +/- might affect the mode instead, but all of the radio still works
> fine.  If you are so inclined to do a little bench work, you might try
> removing and reseating those connectors a couple of times ... maybe with a
> light coat of DeOxit.
>
> Good luck.  In the "Olden Days," you could almost always find the problem
> by looking in the corner of the chassis where the small fire had started.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
>
> Dave Fugleberg wrote on 11/8/2023 11:13 AM:
>
> I thought about that, Fred, but my serial number is in the low 8000s. I
> assembled the kit. It came with the gold pins.
> Could still be a bad connection I suppose. I've found at least 4 different
> ways to trigger the behavior, but it doesn't seem to affect any
> functionality.
>
> On Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 1:04 PM Fred Jensen  wrote:
>
>> Has your K3 received the coveted Golden Connector Pins?  Mine [S/N 642]
>> began doing things like that, especially on the BAND+/- and MODE +/-
>> buttons.  Pressing really hard would sometimes make it work.  The K-POD
>> proved to be a work around, but the new connector pins on a trip to the
>> factory for another problem solved it.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
>> Sparks NV DM09dn
>> Washoe County
>>
>> Dave Fugleberg wrote on 11/8/2023 9:16 AM:
>>
>> Thanks Keith - I totally missed that in the manual, as it's been a long
>> time since I've used the decode feature. I tried changing the threshold to
>> Auto...now I get the same behavior as before, except when it flashes it
>> says thr Auto.  So it's definitely showing me that menu setting, but I have
>> no idea why.
>> I should mention that the behavior does not occur every time. It happens
>> nearly any time i use the REV button, but maybe only one of of every 4-5
>> band changes will trigger it.  As noted, this happens sometimes when
>> changing bands via CAT, so it's not just from poking the front panel.
>> 73 de W0ZF
>>
>> On Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 10:50 AM Keith Trinity WE6R  
>> 
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> That "thr  4" is from the TEXT DEC  settings.
>> Long press CWT/0 (zero) button to see the setting.
>> I would think it would not do anything if "OFF", but try setting the
>> upper to AUTO or something.
>> There is a ton of info in the manual...
>> Keith WE6R K3/K4 Tech
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>> 
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>> 
>> <#m_5094155125443683231_m_-1374330047155880846_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
>>
>
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Display flashes "thr 4 OFF" intermittently

[Dave Fugleberg]

Thanks Jack. I've never used macros, and none are shown in the K3 utility,
so I don't think that's the issue.  I've identified at least 4 ways to
trigger the strange behavior from the front panel, and one via CAT.
73 de W0ZF

On Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 1:34 PM Jack Brindle  wrote:

>  the behavior I might expect if a macro was being executed. Is it possible
> that you have one saved, either in the K3 or the computer that is set to
> trigger at the times you noted? Mostly they execute so fast you don’t see
> the activity, but if the K3 is busy it might slow down a ways. Band change
> is one of those times.
>
> 73,
> Jack, W6FB
>
> On Nov 8, 2023, at 1:04 PM, Fred Jensen  wrote:
>
> Has your K3 received the coveted Golden Connector Pins?  Mine [S/N 642]
> began doing things like that, especially on the BAND+/- and MODE +/-
> buttons.  Pressing really hard would sometimes make it work.  The K-POD
> proved to be a work around, but the new connector pins on a trip to the
> factory for another problem solved it.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
>
> Dave Fugleberg wrote on 11/8/2023 9:16 AM:
>
> Thanks Keith - I totally missed that in the manual, as it's been a long
> time since I've used the decode feature. I tried changing the threshold to
> Auto...now I get the same behavior as before, except when it flashes it
> says thr Auto.  So it's definitely showing me that menu setting, but I have
> no idea why.
> I should mention that the behavior does not occur every time. It happens
> nearly any time i use the REV button, but maybe only one of of every 4-5
> band changes will trigger it.  As noted, this happens sometimes when
> changing bands via CAT, so it's not just from poking the front panel.
> 73 de W0ZF
>
> On Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 10:50 AM Keith Trinity WE6R 
> wrote:
>
> That "thr  4" is from the TEXT DEC  settings.
> Long press CWT/0 (zero) button to see the setting.
> I would think it would not do anything if "OFF", but try setting the
> upper to AUTO or something.
> There is a ton of info in the manual...
> Keith WE6R K3/K4 Tech
>
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Display flashes "thr 4 OFF" intermittently

[Fred Jensen]

Much of the K3 functionality as a radio is analog on the main RF board 
[well, except for the DSP of course].  I believe that many [most?] of 
the signals on the Coveted Golden Connector Pins are digital chatter 
between the brains and the other parts of the radio that tell them what 
to do but don't affect the functionality.  i.e. it might go to the wrong 
band, or BAND +/- might affect the mode instead, but all of the radio 
still works fine.  If you are so inclined to do a little bench work, you 
might try removing and reseating those connectors a couple of times ... 
maybe with a light coat of DeOxit.


Good luck.  In the "Olden Days," you could almost always find the 
problem by looking in the corner of the chassis where the small fire had 
started.


73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

Dave Fugleberg wrote on 11/8/2023 11:13 AM:
I thought about that, Fred, but my serial number is in the low 8000s. 
I assembled the kit. It came with the gold pins.
Could still be a bad connection I suppose. I've found at least 4 
different ways to trigger the behavior, but it doesn't seem to affect 
any functionality.


On Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 1:04 PM Fred Jensen > wrote:


Has your K3 received the coveted Golden Connector Pins?  Mine [S/N
642] began doing things like that, especially on the BAND+/- and
MODE +/- buttons.  Pressing really hard would sometimes make it
work.  The K-POD proved to be a work around, but the new connector
pins on a trip to the factory for another problem solved it.

73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

Dave Fugleberg wrote on 11/8/2023 9:16 AM:

Thanks Keith - I totally missed that in the manual, as it's been a long
time since I've used the decode feature. I tried changing the threshold to
Auto...now I get the same behavior as before, except when it flashes it
says thr Auto.  So it's definitely showing me that menu setting, but I have
no idea why.
I should mention that the behavior does not occur every time. It happens
nearly any time i use the REV button, but maybe only one of of every 4-5
band changes will trigger it.  As noted, this happens sometimes when
changing bands via CAT, so it's not just from poking the front panel.
73 de W0ZF

On Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 10:50 AM Keith Trinity WE6R 

wrote:


That "thr  4" is from the TEXT DEC  settings.
Long press CWT/0 (zero) button to see the setting.
I would think it would not do anything if "OFF", but try setting the
upper to AUTO or something.
There is a ton of info in the manual...
Keith WE6R K3/K4 Tech



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Display flashes "thr 4 OFF" intermittently

[Jack Brindle via Elecraft]

 the behavior I might expect if a macro was being executed. Is it possible that 
you have one saved, either in the K3 or the computer that is set to trigger at 
the times you noted? Mostly they execute so fast you don’t see the activity, 
but if the K3 is busy it might slow down a ways. Band change is one of those 
times.

73,
Jack, W6FB

> On Nov 8, 2023, at 1:04 PM, Fred Jensen  wrote:
> 
> Has your K3 received the coveted Golden Connector Pins?  Mine [S/N 642] began 
> doing things like that, especially on the BAND+/- and MODE +/- buttons.  
> Pressing really hard would sometimes make it work.  The K-POD proved to be a 
> work around, but the new connector pins on a trip to the factory for another 
> problem solved it.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
> 
> Dave Fugleberg wrote on 11/8/2023 9:16 AM:
>> Thanks Keith - I totally missed that in the manual, as it's been a long
>> time since I've used the decode feature. I tried changing the threshold to
>> Auto...now I get the same behavior as before, except when it flashes it
>> says thr Auto.  So it's definitely showing me that menu setting, but I have
>> no idea why.
>> I should mention that the behavior does not occur every time. It happens
>> nearly any time i use the REV button, but maybe only one of of every 4-5
>> band changes will trigger it.  As noted, this happens sometimes when
>> changing bands via CAT, so it's not just from poking the front panel.
>> 73 de W0ZF
>> 
>> On Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 10:50 AM Keith Trinity WE6R 
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> That "thr  4" is from the TEXT DEC  settings.
>>> Long press CWT/0 (zero) button to see the setting.
>>> I would think it would not do anything if "OFF", but try setting the
>>> upper to AUTO or something.
>>> There is a ton of info in the manual...
>>> Keith WE6R K3/K4 Tech
>>> 
>>> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Display flashes "thr 4 OFF" intermittently

[Dave Fugleberg]

I thought about that, Fred, but my serial number is in the low 8000s. I
assembled the kit. It came with the gold pins.
Could still be a bad connection I suppose. I've found at least 4 different
ways to trigger the behavior, but it doesn't seem to affect any
functionality.

On Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 1:04 PM Fred Jensen  wrote:

> Has your K3 received the coveted Golden Connector Pins?  Mine [S/N 642]
> began doing things like that, especially on the BAND+/- and MODE +/-
> buttons.  Pressing really hard would sometimes make it work.  The K-POD
> proved to be a work around, but the new connector pins on a trip to the
> factory for another problem solved it.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
>
> Dave Fugleberg wrote on 11/8/2023 9:16 AM:
>
> Thanks Keith - I totally missed that in the manual, as it's been a long
> time since I've used the decode feature. I tried changing the threshold to
> Auto...now I get the same behavior as before, except when it flashes it
> says thr Auto.  So it's definitely showing me that menu setting, but I have
> no idea why.
> I should mention that the behavior does not occur every time. It happens
> nearly any time i use the REV button, but maybe only one of of every 4-5
> band changes will trigger it.  As noted, this happens sometimes when
> changing bands via CAT, so it's not just from poking the front panel.
> 73 de W0ZF
>
> On Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 10:50 AM Keith Trinity WE6R  
> 
> wrote:
>
>
> That "thr  4" is from the TEXT DEC  settings.
> Long press CWT/0 (zero) button to see the setting.
> I would think it would not do anything if "OFF", but try setting the
> upper to AUTO or something.
> There is a ton of info in the manual...
> Keith WE6R K3/K4 Tech
>
>
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Display flashes "thr 4 OFF" intermittently

[Fred Jensen]

Has your K3 received the coveted Golden Connector Pins? Mine [S/N 642] 
began doing things like that, especially on the BAND+/- and MODE +/- 
buttons.  Pressing really hard would sometimes make it work.  The K-POD 
proved to be a work around, but the new connector pins on a trip to the 
factory for another problem solved it.


73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

Dave Fugleberg wrote on 11/8/2023 9:16 AM:

Thanks Keith - I totally missed that in the manual, as it's been a long
time since I've used the decode feature. I tried changing the threshold to
Auto...now I get the same behavior as before, except when it flashes it
says thr Auto.  So it's definitely showing me that menu setting, but I have
no idea why.
I should mention that the behavior does not occur every time. It happens
nearly any time i use the REV button, but maybe only one of of every 4-5
band changes will trigger it.  As noted, this happens sometimes when
changing bands via CAT, so it's not just from poking the front panel.
73 de W0ZF

On Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 10:50 AM Keith Trinity WE6R
wrote:


That "thr  4" is from the TEXT DEC  settings.
Long press CWT/0 (zero) button to see the setting.
I would think it would not do anything if "OFF", but try setting the
upper to AUTO or something.
There is a ton of info in the manual...
Keith WE6R K3/K4 Tech



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Display flashes "thr 4 OFF" intermittently

[Fred Jensen]

Has your K3 received the coveted Golden Connector Pins?  Mine [S/N 642] 
began doing things like that, especially on the BAND+/- and MODE +/- 
buttons.  Pressing really hard would sometimes make it work.  The K-POD 
proved to be a work around, but the new connector pins on a trip to the 
factory for another problem solved it.


73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

Dave Fugleberg wrote on 11/8/2023 9:16 AM:

Thanks Keith - I totally missed that in the manual, as it's been a long
time since I've used the decode feature. I tried changing the threshold to
Auto...now I get the same behavior as before, except when it flashes it
says thr Auto.  So it's definitely showing me that menu setting, but I have
no idea why.
I should mention that the behavior does not occur every time. It happens
nearly any time i use the REV button, but maybe only one of of every 4-5
band changes will trigger it.  As noted, this happens sometimes when
changing bands via CAT, so it's not just from poking the front panel.
73 de W0ZF

On Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 10:50 AM Keith Trinity WE6R 
wrote:


That "thr  4" is from the TEXT DEC  settings.
Long press CWT/0 (zero) button to see the setting.
I would think it would not do anything if "OFF", but try setting the
upper to AUTO or something.
There is a ton of info in the manual...
Keith WE6R K3/K4 Tech



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Display flashes "thr 4 OFF" intermittently

[Dave Fugleberg]

Thanks Keith - I totally missed that in the manual, as it's been a long
time since I've used the decode feature. I tried changing the threshold to
Auto...now I get the same behavior as before, except when it flashes it
says thr Auto.  So it's definitely showing me that menu setting, but I have
no idea why.
I should mention that the behavior does not occur every time. It happens
nearly any time i use the REV button, but maybe only one of of every 4-5
band changes will trigger it.  As noted, this happens sometimes when
changing bands via CAT, so it's not just from poking the front panel.
73 de W0ZF

On Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 10:50 AM Keith Trinity WE6R 
wrote:

> That "thr  4" is from the TEXT DEC  settings.
> Long press CWT/0 (zero) button to see the setting.
> I would think it would not do anything if "OFF", but try setting the
> upper to AUTO or something.
> There is a ton of info in the manual...
> Keith WE6R K3/K4 Tech
>
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Display flashes "thr 4 OFF" intermittently

[Keith Trinity WE6R]

That "thr  4" is from the TEXT DEC  settings.
Long press CWT/0 (zero) button to see the setting.
I would think it would not do anything if "OFF", but try setting the 
upper to AUTO or something.

There is a ton of info in the manual...
Keith WE6R K3/K4 Tech

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Options Last Time Buy Update

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

Hi Dave,

I can't speak to the module you ordered, but I
received on 28 October the KPA3A 100 watt upgrade I had
ordered back in spring 2021.  The effort to ship upgrades
is definitely a 'live effort,' and the Shipping Status updates
on the Elecraft web page accurately reflected the
status of the module I ordered.

73,
Mike, K8CN
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Options Last Time Buy Update

[wb0gaz via Elecraft]

 (last post I'd seen copied below.)

Been almost 2 months since last update (9/15/2023) - still awaiting 
notification of item I ordered (K3EXREF) in April 2021.

Doesn't look like any recent update to the K3 options on ship status page.

Is this still a live effort?

Thanks for refresh on this!

Dave

###

[Elecraft] K3 Options Last Time Buy Update

Eric Swartz Fri, 15 Sep 2023 10:12:29 -0700

Good news - We are now moving along smoothly on the majority of our K3
Option purchasing, assembly and testing. Here is the latest status as of
9/15/23.


*KPA3A 100W PA: * These should begin shipping in the next 2-3 weeks.
We have completed building and testing the main KPA3A PA modules and are
now kitting the mounting hardware and packaging everything for shipping.
We are also now contacting those of you with KPA3A deposit orders to
confirm your order and your K3/K3S serial number. (The S/N is important to
make sure the installation hardware and PA interface I/O board match your
radio revision.)

*KXV3B Xverter interface:* Out for PCB assembly followed by factory
testing. We expect to begin shipping in the next 5-6 weeks.

*P3TXMON:* Out for PCB assembly, followed by factory testing. We expect to
begin shipping in the next 5-6 weeks.

*KAT3A ATU:* Out for PCB assembly, followed by factory testing. We expect
to begin shipping in the next 5-6 weeks.

*KDVR3A*: Out for PCB assembly, followed by factory testing. We expect to
begin shipping in the next 5-6 weeks.

*P3SVGA:* Out for PCB assembly, followed by factory testing. We expect to
begin shipping in the next 5-6 weeks.

*K3EXREF:* Purchasing final parts and PCB fabs, then out to PCB assembly,
followed by factory testing. We hope to begin shipping in the next 6-8
weeks.

*KBPF3A:* Purchasing final parts and PCB fabs, then out to PCB assembly,
followed by factory testing. We hope to begin shipping in the next 6-8
weeks.

*K3/0 and P3*. These will be the last two K3 Options we build, as they are
more complex and are taking more time to source key parts, sheet metal,
displays etc. We will update the shipping status on these after we begin
shipping the other K3 options listed above.

I'll post updates as we get closer to shipping these options. (And
if some begin shipping earlier than the above schedule. :-)

73,
Eric
*elecraft.com *
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 and KAT connections without a KPA500

[G4GNX]

No, it’s the multi-core cable with a 15 pin plug on each end.

Check Page 5 of the KAT500 manual.

73,
Alan - G4GNX
South Coast UK
Elecraft K4D / KPA500 / KAT500 / IC-9700




> On 4 Nov 2023, at 21:50, Jim Cary  wrote:
> 
> The Aux i/o is the one with phono type plug on the end, correct?
> 

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 and KAT connections without a KPA500

[Jim Cary]

The Aux i/o is the one with phono type plug on the end, correct?

> On Nov 4, 2023, at 3:50 PM, Jack Brindle  wrote:
> 
> This is pretty simple, Jim. The AuxIO cable goes from the K3 to the KAT500. 
> Then one of the Antenna outputs of the K3 goes to the RF input of the KAT500.
> Of course the antennas connect to the KAT500 then (as they did before).
> That is pretty much it.
> 
> 73,
> Jack, W6FB
> 
> 
>> On Nov 4, 2023, at 3:03 PM, Jim Cary  wrote:
>> 
>> I’ve had to take my KPA500 out of service and want to operate just with the 
>> K3 and KAT.  I’ve tired different cabling configurations but can’t seem to 
>> get the k3 to communicate.  The manuals show all sorts of connections with 
>> amps, but not without an amp.
>> 
>> I know it has to be simple, but sure is beating me!
>> 
>> Jim
>> 
>> W2SM
>> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 and KAT connections without a KPA500

[Jack Brindle via Elecraft]

This is pretty simple, Jim. The AuxIO cable goes from the K3 to the KAT500. 
Then one of the Antenna outputs of the K3 goes to the RF input of the KAT500.
Of course the antennas connect to the KAT500 then (as they did before).
That is pretty much it.

73,
Jack, W6FB


> On Nov 4, 2023, at 3:03 PM, Jim Cary  wrote:
> 
> I’ve had to take my KPA500 out of service and want to operate just with the 
> K3 and KAT.  I’ve tired different cabling configurations but can’t seem to 
> get the k3 to communicate.  The manuals show all sorts of connections with 
> amps, but not without an amp.
> 
> I know it has to be simple, but sure is beating me!
> 
> Jim
> 
> W2SM
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Randomly Changes Modes

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

Hi Gary,

I bet you've never used that retort before now.

I don't need any servants, but I could use a
'memory' (not Memory) with same day service.

73,
Mike


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Randomly Changes Modes

[Gary Memory]

???  “If memory serves me correctly…”

I don’t even know who you are, let alone serve you….

Gary Memory, N7BRJ



On Fri, Oct 27, 2023 at 10:27 Michael Carter via Elecraft <
elecraft@mailman.qth.net> wrote:

> Hi Randy,
>
> If memory serves me correctly, others have reported
> similar gremlins with seemingly random activation
> of front panel controls that were not intended.  The
> remedy was (1) check whether your radio has the
> gold pin connectors on the front panel-to-RF board
> interface, and (2) carefully clean the pins on the male header - not
> by spraying, but by using contact cleaner on a cotton
> swab.  Re-insert the front panel to the RF board.
>
> 73,
> Mike, K8CN
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Randomly Changes Modes

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

Hi Randy,

If memory serves me correctly, others have reported
similar gremlins with seemingly random activation
of front panel controls that were not intended.  The
remedy was (1) check whether your radio has the
gold pin connectors on the front panel-to-RF board
interface, and (2) carefully clean the pins on the male header - not
by spraying, but by using contact cleaner on a cotton
swab.  Re-insert the front panel to the RF board.

73,
Mike, K8CN

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Filters

[Brian Hunt]

There was a time when one could email Elecraft support with the K3 serial 
number and they would send the factory Config file. Probably not 100% of the 
solution but it would be a start. 

73,
Brian, K0DTJ 

> On Oct 17, 2023, at 09:05, W3FPR  wrote:
> 
> Jim,
> 
> It is doubtful that will work if the K3 has been set to factory defaults by 
> EEINIT.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
>> On 10/17/2023 11:59 AM, Jim McCook wrote:
>> Dave,
>> 
>> Open the K3 Utility and click on Calibration.  Scroll down to Configure 
>> Crystal Filters.  The top line shows the various bandwidths of the installed 
>> filters.  You can see the big picture there with the checked boxes.
>>  Jim W6YA
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Filters

[W3FPR]

Jim,

It is doubtful that will work if the K3 has been set to factory defaults 
by EEINIT.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/17/2023 11:59 AM, Jim McCook wrote:

Dave,

Open the K3 Utility and click on Calibration.  Scroll down to 
Configure Crystal Filters.  The top line shows the various bandwidths 
of the installed filters.  You can see the big picture there with the 
checked boxes.

 Jim W6YA
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Filters

[Jim McCook]

Dave,

Open the K3 Utility and click on Calibration.  Scroll down to Configure 
Crystal Filters.  The top line shows the various bandwidths of the 
installed filters.  You can see the big picture there with the checked 
boxes.

 Jim W6YA
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Filters

[W3FPR]

Dave,

Remove the top cover - there should be a sticker either on the bottom of 
the top cover or on the top of the sub-RX showing the filters installed 
and the offsets if they are not the 8 pole filters.
If the sticker is not present (or is incorrect), then yes, you will have 
to remove the Sub-RX to see the filters in the main RX and remove the 
sub-RX cover to see the filters installed.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/16/2023 1:55 PM, Dave wrote:

I recently purchased another K3 that I believe was Factory Reset prior to the 
sale. Is there a way to determine which, if any, optional filters are installed 
without opening it up? It has the 2 meter xvtr and 2nd receiver installed and 
I’d prefer not to uninstall things.



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Filters

[Michael Carter via Elecraft]

Hi Dave,

Without a saved CONFIG file, I don't think there
is a way to retrieve the filter settings directly from
the K3.  Have you tried examining the filter settings
for any information that is stored in a CONFIG file?
The K3 Utility permits viewing and editing stored
crystal filter settings.

You could try to visually inspect the filter bandwidths
using an audio spectrum analysis tool, but you would
have to turn off any DSP filtering to see the actual
IF crystal filter response at audio frequencies.  With
some effort you could distinguish 5-pole from 8-pole
filters using the transition band slopes, but estimating
-6 dB bandwidths should be more straightforward from
the displayed spectrum.  While a separate wideband
noise generator would be the best source, you might
have enough local wideband noise to obtain a reasonable
spectrum depiction over the crystal filter response width.

73,
Mike, K8CN


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Volume knob failure: second time!

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> Anyone know if this knob is still available?

E980091/E980092 are both listed at
  
$8.95 each ($19.00 for the pair)

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV


On 9/23/2023 11:24 AM, Tom Doligalski via Elecraft wrote:

Took K3 #969 to the beach this week and was surprised to see the main volume
AF knob had failed (split in half at the point where the set-screw is). This
is the second time I've had this happen (in over a decade!).

  


Anyone know if this knob is still available?

  


The tech support form appears to be inoperative on the Elecraft web site.

  


73 Tom W4KX

  


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Powers Off On Its Own

[David Hachadorian]

On one of my K3's the Powerpole receptacle got flaky. Turn the radio on, 
and then wiggle the plug  to see if it drops out.  I resoldered where 
the receptacle pins mate with the circuit board inside, but I still had 
to use a tie-wrap to hold the plug in a certain position.  I'll fix it 
the right way one of these years.


Good luck!

Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
Yuma, AZ

On 9/15/2023 3:50 PM, Jed Petrovich wrote:

Hello all:

Earlier this week my K3 shut itself off while it was in receive mode. It
had been running for about 20 total minutes at the time it turned off. I
had just finished a 15 minute QSO. The Tx power was 10 watts.

When I tried to turn it on again, the display briefly flashed for a few
seconds and I could hear a slight buzzing sound from within the chassis and
it went off. I waited for a short time and tried again. The K3 display
flashed for a few seconds along with the buzzing, but would not stay
powered. I tried this one more time, but the display flashed very briefly,
buzzed and then off again.

This morning I could power on the K3, but I didn't let it run very long
before I powered it off. It would seem this is some sort of heat-related
issue.

It's serial number 2826, but it's had several mods over the years including
the upgrade on the receiver.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

73,

Jed
AD7KG
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Options Last Time Buy Update (9/15/23)

[Margaret Wold]

I’ll post this on our website.

mwold

On Fri, Sep 15, 2023 at 10:10 AM Eric Swartz  wrote:

> Good news - We are now moving along smoothly on the majority of our K3
> Option purchasing, assembly and testing. Here is the latest status as of
> 9/15/23.
>
> *KPA3A 100W PA: * These should begin shipping in the next 2-3 weeks.
> We have completed building and testing the main KPA3A PA modules and are
> now kitting the mounting hardware and packaging everything for shipping.
> We are also now contacting  those of you with  KPA3A deposit orders to
> confirm your order and your K3/K3S serial number. (The S/N is important to
> make sure the installation hardware and PA interface I/O board match your
> radio revision.)
>
> *KXV3B Xverter interface:*  Out for PCB assembly followed by factory
> testing. We expect to begin shipping in the next 5-6 weeks.
>
> *P3TXMON:*  Out for PCB assembly, followed by factory testing. We expect
> to begin shipping in the next 5-6 weeks.
>
> *KAT3A ATU:* Out for PCB assembly, followed by factory testing. We expect
> to begin shipping in the next 5-6 weeks.
>
> *KDVR3A*:  Out for PCB assembly, followed by factory testing. We expect
> to begin shipping in the next 5-6 weeks.
>
> *P3SVGA:*  Out for PCB assembly, followed by factory testing. We expect
> to begin shipping in the next 5-6 weeks.
>
> *K3EXREF:*  Purchasing final parts and PCB fabs, then out to PCB
> assembly, followed by factory testing. We hope to begin shipping in the
> next 6-8 weeks.
>
> *KBPF3A:* Purchasing final parts and PCB fabs, then out to PCB assembly,
> followed by factory testing. We hope to begin shipping in the next 6-8
> weeks.
> 
> *K3/0 and P3*. These will be the last two K3 Options we build, as they
> are more complex and are taking more time to source key parts, sheet metal,
> displays etc. We will update the shipping  status on these after we begin
> shipping the other K3 options listed above.
>
> I'll post updates as we get closer to shipping these options. (And
> if some begin shipping earlier than the above schedule. :-)
>
> 73,
> Eric
> *elecraft.com *
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Options Last Time Buy Update and other products status:

[Eric Swartz]

Following up on my last post, I'm running about a week and a half behind
getting input for the update. I will be posting it here before the end of
next week after we all get back from the holiday weekend.

Hope everyone gets some relaxation this holiday weekend!

73, EricWA6HHQ
*elecraft.com *



>
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 subreceiver works on CW only

[Erik Wheeler]

Ah yes, that was it! Thank you all!


> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2023 14:38:51 -0400
> From: Erik Wheeler 
> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 subreceiver works on CW only
> Message-ID:
> <
> ca+e6vg7jhuyttyopmfkeys8swpnjmwtbqhw71gg9nxxb_qc...@mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Hi all,
>
> On my K3 (serial 1773) my sub-receiver only works on CW.
>
> On SSB, I just hear faint white noise.
>
> Is this just a setting problem? I've been through all the settings and
> reviewed the manual on the sub-receiver, but haven't been able to solve it.
>
> I have verified that the sub-receiver is using the main antenna.
>
> Thanks for any suggestions.
>
> Erik
> N1CFO
>
>
> --
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2023 16:17:52 -0400
> From: Gordon LaPoint 
> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 subreceiver works on CW only
> Message-ID: 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
>
> Erik,
>  ?? This sounds like the filter setup for the sub receiver is not correct.
> Gordon - N1MGO
>
> On 8/25/2023 2:38 PM, Erik Wheeler wrote:
> > Hi all,
> >
> > On my K3 (serial 1773) my sub-receiver only works on CW.
> >
> > On SSB, I just hear faint white noise.
> >
> > Is this just a setting problem? I've been through all the settings and
> > reviewed the manual on the sub-receiver, but haven't been able to solve
> it.
> >
> > I have verified that the sub-receiver is using the main antenna.
> >
> > Thanks for any suggestions.
> >
> > Erik
> > N1CFO
> > __
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>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2023 20:53:24 +
> From: Michael Carter 
> To: Elecraft Reflector Reflector 
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 subreceiver works on CW only
> Message-ID:
> <
> bl3p223mb0385fb3c3817e02f5ecb04dee4...@bl3p223mb0385.namp223.prod.outlook.com
> >
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hi Erik,
>
> Did you check the filter selection for
> the sub-receiver to be sure you don't
> have a blank slot selected for SSB?
>
> 73,
> Mike, K8CN
>
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 subreceiver works on CW only

[Michael Carter]

Hi Erik,

Did you check the filter selection for
the sub-receiver to be sure you don't
have a blank slot selected for SSB?

73,
Mike, K8CN
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 subreceiver works on CW only

[Gordon LaPoint]

Erik,
   This sounds like the filter setup for the sub receiver is not correct.
Gordon - N1MGO

On 8/25/2023 2:38 PM, Erik Wheeler wrote:

Hi all,

On my K3 (serial 1773) my sub-receiver only works on CW.

On SSB, I just hear faint white noise.

Is this just a setting problem? I've been through all the settings and
reviewed the manual on the sub-receiver, but haven't been able to solve it.

I have verified that the sub-receiver is using the main antenna.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Erik
N1CFO
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Headset

[John Paul Keon]

I have been using a HEIL proset with my K3S since I built it.
I have not had any problems with it.

John Paul // AB4PP

On Sun, Aug 6, 2023 at 8:11 PM Tom & Barb Valosin 
wrote:

> Eric,
>
> Ever since I got my K3 (used) about 9 years back I have been using a
> Heil Proset.
>
> Connects into front mic - jack and phones. Seems to work well. I have
> been happy with it.
>
> Tom, WB2KLD
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Options Last Time Buy Update and other products status:

[Michael Carter]

Thanks very much, Eric, for the comprehensive
update!

73,
Mike, K8CN
(especially glad to know about the KPA3A
being close to shipping)
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power-hunting on FT8

[M Cresap via Elecraft]

 Hi Dave, Joe, and Jim
The GMSK to AM distortion across any 50 Hz bandwidth of a K3 filter would seem 
to be minor. With an FT8 symbol rate of 6.25 symbols per second, would that not 
create some relatively weak 6.25 Hz sidebands plus a bit of mush around those 
lines due to the pseudorandom nature of the bit patterns? That could increase 
the overall bandwidth by maybe 18 Hz above the nominal FT8 signal bandwidth. 
The narrowest resolution bandwidth I have been using is 10 Hz, which is too 
wide to pick up that level of detail. 

There is an equalization tool in WSJT-X that is supposed to equalize phase and 
amplitude filter distortions inside the radio for improved decoding. I haven't 
played with that feature, but it looks like it could provide degraded results 
if it collects data at one passband tuning setting, then tries to decode 
signals after the operator changes the PBT.

Bob has reminded me that ALC related measurements should be done with a fresh 
Tx Cal using the DC voltage/voltage drop that exists today in my shack. I 
recently changed the DC power wiring to 2 feet of #10 wire between the K4 and 
the power supply, just like what I did for my K3. I plan on doing that Tx cal 
tomorrow, will rerun the K4 measurements and let you know what I see.

73, Mike, W3IP

On Sunday, July 23, 2023 at 11:59:58 AM EDT, Dave (NK7Z)  
wrote:  
 
 Hello Mike,

Thanks for sharing your data!!  Help me understand something you said...

Are you saying that at 2 bars, (for your K4), all spurious signals, are 
at least 80 dB down from carrier, while at 5 bars, all spurious signals 
are running around 50 or 60 dB down from carrier?

73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 7/23/23 07:23, M Cresap via Elecraft wrote:
> For my K4, the FT8 signal is clean with no more than 2 bars of ALC.
> To be clear, the spurious responses I have seen with ALC set to 5 bars has NO 
> measurable IMD responses. There is only the one strong signal present, the 
> spurious signals being discussed here are all less than 50 or 60 dB below the 
> intended carrier level. My goal is to reduce all the spurious responses to 80 
> dB below the intended carrier level.
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 channel hopping anomaly

[Kent Trimble]

Hi Fred ...

I don't think the "channel hopping" procedure described on page 40 will 
accomplish what you are wanting to do because it says (in bold type), 
"Memories to be used for channel hopping must be within the same band ..."


Furthermore, tapping M»V twice always puts the Memory content into VFO-A 
with the main tuning dial incrementing the frequency as you described, 
which is normal.


However, you CAN do what you are wanting to do by simply putting each 
KPH frequency in its own Memory bin.


Then, to recall the KPH frequencies (starting in VFO-A), tap M»V just 
once which puts you into the 00-99 Memory slots and allows the main 
tuning dial to cycle through (i.e. channel hop) the various programmed 
frequencies.


Like you, I have KPH marine frequencies stored in Memory.  During last 
week's Night of Nights I cycled through the various KPH Memory slots 
until determining which frequency had the best propagation to my 
location.  At that point you have a choice.  You can either stay in 
Memory mode (the bin number will flash) or you can hit M»V a second time 
and transfer the frequency into VFO-A.  Either will work.  If you do the 
latter, I'd recommend locking the main tuning dial.


Good luck with Enigma!  Too complicated for my tired old brain.

73,
Kent
K9ZTV



On 7/22/2023 2:00 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
I have a variety of frequencies, both in and outside the ham bands 
[e.g. KPH freqs] set up in my K3.  The KPH freqs are set up with the 
"*" in the name for channel hopping.  Worked great for 10 years.  This 
AM, getting ready for the "Big Enigma Decryption Test" I tapped M->V, 
selected memory 37 [6477.5 kHz], and then tapped M->V again.  K3 went 
to the right frequency, however when I move the Big Knob, it just 
increments the frequency ... it does not channel hop.  All looks 
normal in the K3 Memory Editor app.


99.775% of these kinds of problems end up being in my head. Hoping 
this one is too.  Any help?


73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power-hunting on FT8

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

Doppler caused "spreading" is readily identified ... the spreading is
generally in one direction (because airport "patterns" run in one
direction) and often manifests as a second signal offset by 60-80 Hz
(which can be independently decoded).  IMD is generally in both
directions and can not be decoded.

The *most disgusting* distortion is on signals in which the owner
pumps audio into a dynamic mic input and overdrives the mic preamp.
The mic gain control of most traditional rigs follows the preamp
and the preamp is often into clipping - particularly when the "speaker"
or headphone output of a sound card is run into a dynamic mic input
without an attenuator.  Electret inputs typically require a 20 dB
(10:1 voltage - 10 K series, 1K parallel resistors) attenuator while
dynamic inputs call for a 40 dB (100:1 - 47 K series, 470 Ohm parallel)
attenuator.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV


On 7/23/2023 3:13 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

On 7/23/2023 9:49 AM, Andy Durbin wrote:
It is my belief that many of the wide FT8 signals seen on 6 m FT8 are 
caused by Doppler shifted aircraft reflections.  It's very common here 
in the Phoenix metro area and does not imply that the transmitted 
signal was in any way abnormal.


YES! It's very common anywhere around airports with much traffic. We see 
lots of it in the SF Bay area -- N5KO, W6RN, WB6RJH, and I are roughly 
20 miles from SJC (San Jose) 30 miles from SFO (San Francisco), a little 
farther from OAK (Oakland). There are other propagation-related causes 
for spreading signals.


73, Jim K9YC


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power-hunting on FT8

[Jim Brown]

On 7/23/2023 9:49 AM, Andy Durbin wrote:

It is my belief that many of the wide FT8 signals seen on 6 m FT8 are caused by 
Doppler shifted aircraft reflections.  It's very common here in the Phoenix 
metro area and does not imply that the transmitted signal was in any way 
abnormal.


YES! It's very common anywhere around airports with much traffic. We see 
lots of it in the SF Bay area -- N5KO, W6RN, WB6RJH, and I are roughly 
20 miles from SJC (San Jose) 30 miles from SFO (San Francisco), a little 
farther from OAK (Oakland). There are other propagation-related causes 
for spreading signals.


73, Jim K9YC





















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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power-hunting on FT8

[Dave (NK7Z)]

Hello Mike,

Thanks for sharing your data!!  Help me understand something you said...

Are you saying that at 2 bars, (for your K4), all spurious signals, are 
at least 80 dB down from carrier, while at 5 bars, all spurious signals 
are running around 50 or 60 dB down from carrier?


73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 7/23/23 07:23, M Cresap via Elecraft wrote:

For my K4, the FT8 signal is clean with no more than 2 bars of ALC.
To be clear, the spurious responses I have seen with ALC set to 5 bars has NO 
measurable IMD responses. There is only the one strong signal present, the 
spurious signals being discussed here are all less than 50 or 60 dB below the 
intended carrier level. My goal is to reduce all the spurious responses to 80 
dB below the intended carrier level.

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power-hunting on FT8

[Rick NK7I]

That the K3 and K4 are clean transmitters (for a 12V final) is awesome for 
everyone on the air.  Elecraft sets the bar again.

But the highly popular JT modes are not the only audio based digital modes used 
these days.  Others are more complex than one continuous phase shifted tone.

With that in mind, there is no reason that comes to mind, why (no matter the 
brand) operators should not set their audio input for max UP TO where ALC 
begins, so that any audio based digital mode stays clean; the transmitter is 
given precisely what it needs to produce output without hunting or ‘coming up 
to power’.

When I select 28 watts, it means I want and expect 28 watts on EVERY 
transmission, EVERY time IMMEDIATELY (to drive an amp where the differences 
become significant).

Anything else, is just sloppy operating and there is already ample numbers of 
sloppy stations.  We can each do our part to not be another (no matter the 
mode).

73,
Rick NK7I

> On Jul 23, 2023, at 7:23 AM, M Cresap via Elecraft  
> wrote:
> 
>  I have been running tests on K3s and K4s to understand the conditions 
> needed to transmit clean FT8 signals. I have previously shared some of my 
> findings with Pete N4ZR and a couple of other folks. Their feedback has been 
> very valuable.
> 
> Joe Taylor, K1JT has shown the spectral purity of the FT4 and FT8 protocols 
> (using WSJT-X version 2.1 and later) to be very clean to 80 dB below the peak 
> signal. See https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/FT4_FT8_QEX.pdf (Figure 3 and related 
> discussion on pages 9 and 10)  and 
> https://www.w2zq.com/wsjt-x-innards-explained-by-joe-taylor-k1jt/ (slide 
> entitled Spectra: RTTY, FT8, FT4). If the WSJT-X operating instructions are 
> followed (use operating mode "Fake-It" or "Split"), there is exactly one 
> clean signal to be transmitted as discussed in the exchanges in this thread 
> https://groups.io/g/Elecraft-K4/message/25371
> I have been endeavoring to ensure that ALL of the FT4 and FT8 spectra purity 
> shown by Joe Taylor can be replicated by my K3 and K4D in the Data A mode - 
> and that the recipe for a clean spectra can be shared with others. Clean FT8 
> spectra is badly needed, especially in metro areas at 10 meters and above, 
> where many poor quality FT8 signals abound and wipe out many of the weaker 
> stations that other stations are trying to receive. Yes, there are 
> suggestions that folks in the same area all transmit at the same time, and 
> many people try it, but in practice, not everyone is on-board with that 
> suggestion. But, there are also stations on the air that transmit very clean 
> FT8 signals every day, so it can be done!
> I shared with Pete that neither my K3 or K4 transmitted the cleanest possible 
> FT8 signal using either analog or USB digital inputs and the conventional 
> setup instructions that have been often repeated on this reflector (i.e. set 
> the audio level so there are 4/5 bars of ALC showing). After I beefed up my 
> DC power cable (it is now 2 feet of #10 wire between the K3 and the power 
> supply), I found that setting the Line In level to the point just before the 
> 1st ALC bar lights up (i.e. Line In = 2 in my case) results in a very clean 
> FT8 signal. As Pete reported, there is a slow increase of RF power output 
> level for 10-20 seconds as the ALC circuit compensates for the lower input 
> level, but apparently the ALC loop remains open, hence the clean signal. 
> 
> For my K4, the FT8 signal is clean with no more than 2 bars of ALC.
> To be clear, the spurious responses I have seen with ALC set to 5 bars has NO 
> measurable IMD responses. There is only the one strong signal present, the 
> spurious signals being discussed here are all less than 50 or 60 dB below the 
> intended carrier level. My goal is to reduce all the spurious responses to 80 
> dB below the intended carrier level.
> 
> The discussion that Pete, N4ZR started several days ago got many responses 
> that could be grouped into three categories:
> 
> 1. "The manufacturer says use 5 bars of ALC, end of story". I don't buy that 
> at all. I have yet to see any manufacturer's DATA on the relationship between 
> their transmit ALC levels (or any other metric) and the in-band spectral 
> purity of an FT8 like signal beyond "meets  FCC spurious signal 
> requirements". 
> 
> 2. "I must be mistaken, my equipment is overloaded, etc". In years past, that 
> would have been a fair criticism, it would have taken hundreds of thousands 
> of $$ worth of calibrated test equipment to prove whether anyone's receiver 
> was overloaded or not. With today's high end receivers (the K4 being one of 
> them), the overload point in every gain state is well known (notably 
> confirmed and publicized by NC0I, Rob Sherwood), and overloaded signals 
> trigger a visible alarm on the radio. The K4 (and I assume other high end 
> receivers with similar architecture) has a repeatable performance (amplitude 
> stability) in showing signal levels to the dB 

Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power-hunting on FT8

[M Cresap via Elecraft]

 I have been running tests on K3s and K4s to understand the conditions needed 
to transmit clean FT8 signals. I have previously shared some of my findings 
with Pete N4ZR and a couple of other folks. Their feedback has been very 
valuable.

Joe Taylor, K1JT has shown the spectral purity of the FT4 and FT8 protocols 
(using WSJT-X version 2.1 and later) to be very clean to 80 dB below the peak 
signal. See https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/FT4_FT8_QEX.pdf (Figure 3 and related 
discussion on pages 9 and 10)  and 
https://www.w2zq.com/wsjt-x-innards-explained-by-joe-taylor-k1jt/ (slide 
entitled Spectra: RTTY, FT8, FT4). If the WSJT-X operating instructions are 
followed (use operating mode "Fake-It" or "Split"), there is exactly one clean 
signal to be transmitted as discussed in the exchanges in this thread 
https://groups.io/g/Elecraft-K4/message/25371
I have been endeavoring to ensure that ALL of the FT4 and FT8 spectra purity 
shown by Joe Taylor can be replicated by my K3 and K4D in the Data A mode - and 
that the recipe for a clean spectra can be shared with others. Clean FT8 
spectra is badly needed, especially in metro areas at 10 meters and above, 
where many poor quality FT8 signals abound and wipe out many of the weaker 
stations that other stations are trying to receive. Yes, there are suggestions 
that folks in the same area all transmit at the same time, and many people try 
it, but in practice, not everyone is on-board with that suggestion. But, there 
are also stations on the air that transmit very clean FT8 signals every day, so 
it can be done!
I shared with Pete that neither my K3 or K4 transmitted the cleanest possible 
FT8 signal using either analog or USB digital inputs and the conventional setup 
instructions that have been often repeated on this reflector (i.e. set the 
audio level so there are 4/5 bars of ALC showing). After I beefed up my DC 
power cable (it is now 2 feet of #10 wire between the K3 and the power supply), 
I found that setting the Line In level to the point just before the 1st ALC bar 
lights up (i.e. Line In = 2 in my case) results in a very clean FT8 signal. As 
Pete reported, there is a slow increase of RF power output level for 10-20 
seconds as the ALC circuit compensates for the lower input level, but 
apparently the ALC loop remains open, hence the clean signal. 

For my K4, the FT8 signal is clean with no more than 2 bars of ALC.
To be clear, the spurious responses I have seen with ALC set to 5 bars has NO 
measurable IMD responses. There is only the one strong signal present, the 
spurious signals being discussed here are all less than 50 or 60 dB below the 
intended carrier level. My goal is to reduce all the spurious responses to 80 
dB below the intended carrier level.

The discussion that Pete, N4ZR started several days ago got many responses that 
could be grouped into three categories:

1. "The manufacturer says use 5 bars of ALC, end of story". I don't buy that at 
all. I have yet to see any manufacturer's DATA on the relationship between 
their transmit ALC levels (or any other metric) and the in-band spectral purity 
of an FT8 like signal beyond "meets  FCC spurious signal requirements". 

2. "I must be mistaken, my equipment is overloaded, etc". In years past, that 
would have been a fair criticism, it would have taken hundreds of thousands of 
$$ worth of calibrated test equipment to prove whether anyone's receiver was 
overloaded or not. With today's high end receivers (the K4 being one of them), 
the overload point in every gain state is well known (notably confirmed and 
publicized by NC0I, Rob Sherwood), and overloaded signals trigger a visible 
alarm on the radio. The K4 (and I assume other high end receivers with similar 
architecture) has a repeatable performance (amplitude stability) in showing 
signal levels to the dB on a panadapter. To me, external monitors and external 
display programs (like Win4K4) help to visualize and collect data better than 
trying to read the data off the radio's relatively small screen.
3. "Don't use my data, have someone near you with a high end receiver 
/panadapteror a good spectrum analyzer (and who knows how to use it) look at 
your signal". I agree, that is a very sound approach. On 6 meters, a station 
10-20 miles away, and near line of sight should provide a good signal strength 
for analysis by a high end receiver/panadapter.

It is also possible for any transmitter that more than one problems exists, 
beyond the ALC issue. Other potential problems include poor power supply 
regulation, excessive DC voltage drop on transmit, ground loops, or a defective 
phase locked loop. Those problems should be fixed before changes to the ALC 
response is attempted.

The K3 accepts both analog and digital inputs for Data In, with multiple 
generations of I/O boards. I have not tested all of these combinations! Ground 
loops in particular can be challenging to clean up.
I used a Signalhound SA-44B spectrum analyzer and a 

Re: [Elecraft] K3 channel hopping anomaly[1]

[Kent Trimble]

Hi Fred ...

I don't think using the "channel hopping" procedure as described on page 
40 will accomplish what you are wanting to do because it says (in bold 
type), "Memories to be used for channel hopping must be within the same 
band ..."


Furthermore, tapping M»V twice always puts the Memory content into VFO-A 
with the main tuning dial incrementing the frequency as you described, 
which is normal.


However, you CAN do what you are wanting to do by simply putting each 
KPH frequency in its own Memory bin.


Then, to recall the KPH frequencies (assuming you are in VFO-A), tap M»V 
just once which puts you into the 00-99 Memory slots and allows the main 
tuning dial to cycle through (same as "channel hopping") the various 
programmed frequencies.


Like you I have all the KPH marine frequencies in Memory.  During last 
week's Night of Nights I merely cycled through the various KPH Memory 
slots until I could determine which frequency had the best propagation 
to my location.  At that point you have a choice. You can either stay in 
Memory mode (the bin number will flash) or you can hit M»V a second time 
and transfer the frequency into VFO-A.  Either will work.  If you do the 
latter, I'd recommend locking the main tuning dial.


Good luck with Enigma!  Too complicated for my tired old brain.

73,
Kent
K9ZTV



On 7/22/2023 2:00 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
I have a variety of frequencies, both in and outside the ham bands 
[e.g. KPH freqs] set up in my K3.  The KPH freqs are set up with the 
"*" in the name for channel hopping.  Worked great for 10 years.  This 
AM, getting ready for the "Big Enigma Decryption Test" I tapped M->V, 
selected memory 37 [6477.5 kHz], and then tapped M->V again.  K3 went 
to the right frequency, however when I move the Big Knob, it just 
increments the frequency ... it does not channel hop.  All looks 
normal in the K3 Memory Editor app.


99.775% of these kinds of problems end up being in my head. Hoping 
this one is too.  Any help?


73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

[1] anomaly [ah NOM ah lee, n.] Term used by NASA to indicate 
something not going correctly.  It can range anywhere from a burned 
out indicator to the rocket landing pointy-end first in the desert 
outside Tucson




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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power-hunting on FT8

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

Are you sure the "technically-qualified local ham" was not running his
tests in SSB instead of DATA A?  There are more than a few "technically-
qualified" individuals who insist on using SSB instead of DATA_A with
WSJTX and that makes all the difference in the ALC display.

Again, READ THE K3 OWNERS MANUAL and do what the manufacturer says.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV

On 7/20/2023 10:33 PM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote:
OK guys - rather than reply individually, let me try to pull everything 
together in one message.


In a previous effort at FT8 I followed the standard advice to set the 
power slider in WSJT-X (on the lower RIGHT side) so that my K-3 showed 4 
bars on the ALC meter, just below the threshold for ALC starting, and 
that seemed to work fine.  Then a technically-qualified local ham showed 
me spectrum analyzer images of a K-3 at 4 bars versus at no bars, and 
the difference was startling - the no bars signal was clean and narrow, 
while the 4-bars signal looked like some of those SSB sigs we hear 
during contests, wide and with many artifacts.  I am not going to 
identify my source here, but I'm fairly sure he reads this reflector, so 
maybe he'll join the discussion


Anyway, I'm kind of at sea - WSJT-X works fine with no bars - I've 
finished 12 and 17M, as well as digital DXCC in the last few weeks, 
following his advice.  But the hunting typically takes almost 20 seconds 
of transmitting - roughly 1 1/2 FT-8 cycles - to reach full power - and 
happens every time I change bands, which puts me behind the curve if I 
switch bands, see someone I need, and have to spend 1 1/2 transmit 
cycles getting up to full power before I can call him effectively.


73, Pete N4ZR




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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power-hunting on FT8

[Rick NK7I]

Pete,
I would suspect that the local ham didn’t account for you overdriving his 
receiver (or test set) which would explain why an underdriven signal appeared 
cleaner (no overload).  Had he attenuated your 4 bar signal, it would have been 
clean, I’m 100% certain.

A full audio supplied (just shy of ALC) K3  is clean.  I’ve had mine monitored 
several times with real test equipment, to make sure before I trusted it at QRO 
levels (and checked again in case there was an RFI distortion).  On some radios 
harmonics will appear, but they are internal to the radio, not really on the 
air (overdrive distortion).

It will remain as clean as the audio, up to the point the ALC begins to kick 
in; then it goes bad like any other radio.  That’s the fault of ALC, not the 
radio.

I DX, it’s about the only thing I do on ham radio.  Most of the time at legal 
limit with a high gain antenna (helps to be LOUD, get heard, make the contact, 
fight less) and over the past several years FT8 has been the mode of choice by 
DX teams (limited staff, fast, one op can work 2-3 bands at a time, efficient 
and dreadfully boring).  Had there been an issue, I would have heard about it 
by now; my station is one of several hundred potent signals on the band.

But, you have your answer why it’s hunting power and can choose to operate as 
you see fit as long as you remember that the K3 will try to ‘pull’ more audio 
in order to obtain the power setting, which may be that it pulls in sounds and 
noises (power supply, signals on other sound card or rig noises) not normally 
heard (and looks poor on the output as a result).

My suggestion:  As stated prior for the how, 4 bars of audio drive with the 5th 
barely flickering (WSJT-X at max) and leave it all alone.  Using audio drive on 
a modern rig as an RF output control is misusing the rig and clutters up the 
air.  Leave the ‘power setting’ on WSJT-X at MAX; recheck the collections of 
settings periodically (and ALWAYS after a Windows update, they often do NASTY 
things to audio and USB port settings).

The WSJT-X control is akin to reducing receive signal levels by trimming feet 
of antenna off, instead of using the RF gain control.  It has the same results 
but it’s just not the correct method.

If you do this, you’ll find that the clean output at the power you actually set 
the radio for, will allow other DXCC conclusions in very short order (because 
you’re loud and clean).

The choice is yours.

73,
Rick NK7I

> On Jul 20, 2023, at 7:33 PM, Pete Smith N4ZR  wrote:
> 
> OK guys - rather than reply individually, let me try to pull everything 
> together in one message.
> 
> In a previous effort at FT8 I followed the standard advice to set the power 
> slider in WSJT-X (on the lower RIGHT side) so that my K-3 showed 4 bars on 
> the ALC meter, just below the threshold for ALC starting, and that seemed to 
> work fine.  Then a technically-qualified local ham showed me spectrum 
> analyzer images of a K-3 at 4 bars versus at no bars, and the difference was 
> startling - the no bars signal was clean and narrow, while the 4-bars signal 
> looked like some of those SSB sigs we hear during contests, wide and with 
> many artifacts.  I am not going to identify my source here, but I'm fairly 
> sure he reads this reflector, so maybe he'll join the discussion
> 
> Anyway, I'm kind of at sea - WSJT-X works fine with no bars - I've finished 
> 12 and 17M, as well as digital DXCC in the last few weeks, following his 
> advice.  But the hunting typically takes almost 20 seconds of transmitting - 
> roughly 1 1/2 FT-8 cycles - to reach full power - and happens every time I 
> change bands, which puts me behind the curve if I switch bands, see someone I 
> need, and have to spend 1 1/2 transmit cycles getting up to full power before 
> I can call him effectively.
> 
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power-hunting on FT8

[David Gilbert]

Sorry, but I would want to see live spectrum displays of my own rig with 
a known hardware setup instead of images of some other K3 with unknown 
K3 settings and unknown test setup.  Hundreds of us have been following 
the just barely flickering 5 bar rule with excellent performance.


You know that you're experiencing power hunting the way you are doing it 
... you don't know that you're generating trash the way everyone else 
does it.


73,
Dave  AB7E



On 7/20/2023 7:33 PM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote:
OK guys - rather than reply individually, let me try to pull 
everything together in one message.


In a previous effort at FT8 I followed the standard advice to set the 
power slider in WSJT-X (on the lower RIGHT side) so that my K-3 showed 
4 bars on the ALC meter, just below the threshold for ALC starting, 
and that seemed to work fine.  Then a technically-qualified local ham 
showed me spectrum analyzer images of a K-3 at 4 bars versus at no 
bars, and the difference was startling - the no bars signal was clean 
and narrow, while the 4-bars signal looked like some of those SSB sigs 
we hear during contests, wide and with many artifacts.  I am not going 
to identify my source here, but I'm fairly sure he reads this 
reflector, so maybe he'll join the discussion


Anyway, I'm kind of at sea - WSJT-X works fine with no bars - I've 
finished 12 and 17M, as well as digital DXCC in the last few weeks, 
following his advice.  But the hunting typically takes almost 20 
seconds of transmitting - roughly 1 1/2 FT-8 cycles - to reach full 
power - and happens every time I change bands, which puts me behind 
the curve if I switch bands, see someone I need, and have to spend 1 
1/2 transmit cycles getting up to full power before I can call him 
effectively.


73, Pete N4ZR


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power-hunting on FT8

[Walter Underwood]

I recommend finding someone with a P3 or other spectrum display and trying this 
on *your* K3 rather than looking at pictures of “a K3”. Running with 
insufficient audio drive, which is what you are doing, has known problems, 
which you are experiencing.

I would be glad to do it with my KX3 and PX3, but I’m on the other side of the 
US.

wunder
K6WRU
Walter Underwood
CM87wj
http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)

> On Jul 20, 2023, at 7:33 PM, Pete Smith N4ZR  wrote:
> 
> OK guys - rather than reply individually, let me try to pull everything 
> together in one message.
> 
> In a previous effort at FT8 I followed the standard advice to set the power 
> slider in WSJT-X (on the lower RIGHT side) so that my K-3 showed 4 bars on 
> the ALC meter, just below the threshold for ALC starting, and that seemed to 
> work fine.  Then a technically-qualified local ham showed me spectrum 
> analyzer images of a K-3 at 4 bars versus at no bars, and the difference was 
> startling - the no bars signal was clean and narrow, while the 4-bars signal 
> looked like some of those SSB sigs we hear during contests, wide and with 
> many artifacts.  I am not going to identify my source here, but I'm fairly 
> sure he reads this reflector, so maybe he'll join the discussion
> 
> Anyway, I'm kind of at sea - WSJT-X works fine with no bars - I've finished 
> 12 and 17M, as well as digital DXCC in the last few weeks, following his 
> advice.  But the hunting typically takes almost 20 seconds of transmitting - 
> roughly 1 1/2 FT-8 cycles - to reach full power - and happens every time I 
> change bands, which puts me behind the curve if I switch bands, see someone I 
> need, and have to spend 1 1/2 transmit cycles getting up to full power before 
> I can call him effectively.
> 
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power-hunting on FT8

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

OK guys - rather than reply individually, let me try to pull everything 
together in one message.


In a previous effort at FT8 I followed the standard advice to set the 
power slider in WSJT-X (on the lower RIGHT side) so that my K-3 showed 4 
bars on the ALC meter, just below the threshold for ALC starting, and 
that seemed to work fine.  Then a technically-qualified local ham showed 
me spectrum analyzer images of a K-3 at 4 bars versus at no bars, and 
the difference was startling - the no bars signal was clean and narrow, 
while the 4-bars signal looked like some of those SSB sigs we hear 
during contests, wide and with many artifacts.  I am not going to 
identify my source here, but I'm fairly sure he reads this reflector, so 
maybe he'll join the discussion


Anyway, I'm kind of at sea - WSJT-X works fine with no bars - I've 
finished 12 and 17M, as well as digital DXCC in the last few weeks, 
following his advice.  But the hunting typically takes almost 20 seconds 
of transmitting - roughly 1 1/2 FT-8 cycles - to reach full power - and 
happens every time I change bands, which puts me behind the curve if I 
switch bands, see someone I need, and have to spend 1 1/2 transmit 
cycles getting up to full power before I can call him effectively.


73, Pete N4ZR

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