Re: [Elecraft] P3 Measurements with new K3SYNA Boards
On Mon,7/27/2015 10:28 PM, Phil Wheeler wrote: Oh oh, Jim: We need a P3A :-) Good you took this on. Perhaps P3 firmware can be re-written to allow display of greater dynamic range to the extent that electronics headroom supports it? 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KX3 Memory Editing Utility (revisited yet again)
I wonder how you guys with 100 programmed memories manage to remember what is in what memory? Personally if the number gets to be greater than 5, I have no clue. It becomes trial and error. 73 de Brian/K3KO On 7/26/2015 23:47 PM, Nr4c wrote: I'd like to see a feature to save User settings to a file. Only those config items that define the user preferences, not calibration stuff. This would allow an owner of several K3 radios to set them up alike. Also two TX EQ settings; one for front and one for rear. Sent from my iPhone ...nr4c. bill On Jul 26, 2015, at 6:58 PM, Phil Hystad phys...@mac.com wrote: I have followed previous discussions on the memory editor issues (no support for Mac, etc.) but I missed the answer to the big, big question. The big question is: why is it that the existing Elecraft supported K3 and KX3 utilities do not include a memory editing page built in and supported as a mainline feature. Seems to be a no-brainer to me. I would expect Eric or Wayne to say “Yah, we need that in our utility programs, let’s do it”. 73, phil, K7PEH __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to n...@widomaker.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to als...@nc.rr.com - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.6081 / Virus Database: 4401/10311 - Release Date: 07/26/15 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] P3 - P3TXMON
Just wondering if anyone received their P3TXMON as yet.Bill-W0BBI __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KX3 Memory Editing Utility (revisited yet again)
Would it be possible for Elecraft to document what commands were used to extract and rewrite the memory items? Given that, it would be too difficult to write (portable) python code to do the memory extraction. Then we'd all have a linux client. On Sun, Jul 26, 2015 at 6:58 PM, Phil Hystad phys...@mac.com wrote: I have followed previous discussions on the memory editor issues (no support for Mac, etc.) but I missed the answer to the big, big question. The big question is: why is it that the existing Elecraft supported K3 and KX3 utilities do not include a memory editing page built in and supported as a mainline feature. Seems to be a no-brainer to me. I would expect Eric or Wayne to say “Yah, we need that in our utility programs, let’s do it”. 73, phil, K7PEH __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to kg4...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KX3 Memory Editing Utility (revisited yet again)
I manage memories for all my radios including an Icom R8500 that has 1000 memories. There are programs that can save and edit the memories to a PC file but I keep a frequency list in an Excel spread sheet. - Jack WA9FVP Sent from my TRS-80 :-) -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-KX3-Memory-Editing-Utility-revisited-yet-again-tp7605366p7605392.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KX3 Memory Editing Utility (revisited yet again)
Can't speak for everyone else, but I have all 100 memories programmed. I just have them programmed in 160 - 6m order, 4 per band. Each of the 4 has one each CW A/B, Data, SSB1, and SSB2 (tailored to the band, of course). It's easy enough to spin VFO A to get to the right band and mode, then tune from there. Most of the programmed freqs are watering hole type frequencies. For example, the four memories on 30m are: Showing VFO A and b - 21: 10.100, 10.110 CW 22: 10.106, 10.116 CW 23: 10.1406, 10.1387 Data A (PSK typical center and WSPR) 24: 10.1415, 10.1425 Data A (Olivia watering holes) For the remainder, I have a bunch of Army MARS freqs, some SWL band centers, a few AM stations, and WWV/CHU, etc (utility freqs) and so on. Anyone can do pretty much the same thing with the M1 - M4 quick memories. I just like general memories little better, because recall causes the band change without a separate action. 73, matt W6NIA On Mon, 27 Jul 2015 12:10:37 +, you wrote: I wonder how you guys with 100 programmed memories manage to remember what is in what memory? Personally if the number gets to be greater than 5, I have no clue. It becomes trial and error. 73 de Brian/K3KO Matt Zilmer, W6NIA -- Always store beer in a dark place. -R. Heinlein __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] For Sale - K3/100 S/N 2918
K3/100 factory assembled KAT3 ATU KXF3A Ver. B KTCS03-1 High stability Ref. Osc. KF3A 2.8HZ 8 pole filter KFL3A 250HZ 8 pole filter KFL3A 6KHZ 8 pole filter (general coverage) This radio has just been returned from the factory, sent in with instructions to “make it like new.” Factory performed all modifications and upgrades including new sun board. The worksheet returned with the radio states that it “meets or exceeds all factory specifications.” As new appearance from non-smoking environment. Unfortunately I am no longer able to use it. Sell for $2500 including insured shipping to CONUS only. Please contact me offline at wa8...@yahoo.com mailto:wa8...@yahoo.com. Tnx. John wa8jcb __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] P3 - P3TXMON
Not yet. Hopefully, they will start shipping this week. 73, Bob Nobis - N7RJN n7...@nobis.net On Jul 27, 2015, at 05:43, Bill Wiehe via Elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net wrote: Just wondering if anyone received their P3TXMON as yet.Bill-W0BBI __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to n7...@nobis.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
Hi Alan, In fact, the spectrogram that I posted shows strong key clicks of Class D amplifier on the signal to 472.1 kHz. Also the linear amplifier at 472.5 KHz in the spectrogram shows key clicks but lower. On the other hand you can see that my signal at 473.3 is very clean without key clicks. Many hams have asked me how it is possible that with a switching amplifier there are no key clicks. The answer is that I have taken a different approach by the schemes that are on web and the result you can see yourself. It is very important to dampen all transients during switching from interdiction to conduction and vice versa. I had to work a lot but at the end I got a very clean TX. 73, Fausto IK4NMF - Original Message - From: Alan n...@sonic.net To: Fausto Coletti faustocole...@alice.it Sent: Monday, July 27, 2015 5:21 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers Hi Fausto, The term class D can mean many different things. As long as a class-D amplifier uses some means to preserve the modulation envelope (the shape of the amplitude) then it would work fine for CW. But if the input CW signal is hard-limited then the wave shaping will be lost and key clicks will result. It's not an issue for FSK digital modes, because the amplitude is constant, so hard-limiting has no effect. But CW is actually a form of amplitude modulation so it needs a linear amplifier. 73, Alan N1AL On 07/27/2015 12:30 AM, Fausto Coletti wrote: It depends on how you made the amplifier. I produce some models of amplifiers, of different powers, all in switching operation. Attached an image of the DK7FC grabber, you can see at 472.1 KHz the spectrogram of a German station that use a class D amplifier, at 472.5 an Italian station that use a 400W tube linear amplifier and at 473.3 there is my signal with my QRO+ switching PA. I can assure that I often find local stations operating at 250-300 Hz from my frequency that are not minimally disturbed I do not think that a linear amplifier is so better. I also made a 100W output amplifier specifically designed for the K3. This amplifier runs at 12 volt. All my PA need an input signal (adjustable) from -10dBm to + 20 dBm 73, Fausto IK4NMF - Original Message - From: Alan n...@sonic.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, July 27, 2015 6:32 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers CW would be another mode that would not need a linear amp I think. No, CW requires a linear amplifier. CW is not constant-amplitude - the amplitude changes every time you open or close the key. A class-C amplifier would mess up the key shaping, causing key clicks. Any true FSK or MSK signal should not be bothered by a non-linear amplifier. The only caveat I can think of is that the amplitude of an AFSK signal may have some ripple on it to the extent that the passband of the transmit crystal filter is not flat. But I doubt that's a significant issue. Alan N1AL - Nessun virus nel messaggio. Controllato da AVG - www.avg.com Versione: 2015.0.6081 / Database dei virus: 4392/10316 - Data di rilascio: 27/07/2015 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
To catch up on the comments I address all that I have so far: Re: linear vs class-C is really a moot point as its easy enough to build a linear at 500-KHz. CW, JT65, FSK all do fine with class-C, of course. And its true that any modulation of a continuous carrier will impart some bandwidth. Its not likely that wide-band digital modes will be approved in a band that is only 7-KHz wide so probably those approved would work with a class-C amp. I think its just simpler to provide class-AB then its a non-issue. Re: 15-dB HF linear amp gain limit. If that is applied to 630m amps then either I sell a kit or partial kit. 1mw in to 1w out is 30-dB and 100w out is 50-dB. I would have to research the regs to see if the limit is for a certain level of input (like 5w). Also the regs allow hams to sell amps to other hams without this restriction (but at what quantity per year?). First off I am not proposing to go into competition with MFJ. This is just a home business building one at a time. If the FCC is going to make this a small (tiny) business killer than its just not worth the bother. If I say more than this it will get political and that is OT. 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Kits made by KL7UW Dubus Mag business: dubus...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
On Mon,7/27/2015 10:43 AM, Edward R Cole wrote: CW, JT65, FSK all do fine with class-C, of course. Ed, I suggest that you drive a Class C amp with a K3 transmitting CW and look at the spectra with a P3 both at the output of the rig and at the output of the amp. Set the P3 display for 5 kHz. 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
Phil, That is correct, and the keying of that output stage was shaped in many cases. Grid-block keying was all the rage for help in shaping the keying envelope. Cathode keying was used too, but usually not with keying. You had to be careful the key did not bite from the voltage on it. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/27/2015 4:27 PM, Phil Wheeler wrote: I'd have to dig out my old circuit diagrams, but it seems like when we used Class C amps back in the day (1950's and 60s) we keyed the output stage, not only the driver as with linear amps -- and we modulated the output stage in the AM days, too. 73, Phil W7OX __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
The need for linear amplifiers with CW has been known for many years. Quoting from the 1964 ARRL Handbook: When key clicks introduced by the addition of an amplifier stage are found only near the transmitter frequency, amplifier clipping is indicated. It is quite common when fixed bias is used on the amplifier and the bias is well past the cut-off value. [In other words, a class C amplifier. Similar to a bipolar transistor amplifier with no base bias.] A linear amplifier (Class AB1, AB2 or B) will amplify the excitation without adding any clicks, and if clicks show up, a low-frequency parasitic oscillation is probably the reason. Alan N1AL On 07/27/2015 11:42 AM, Jim Brown wrote: On Mon,7/27/2015 10:43 AM, Edward R Cole wrote: CW, JT65, FSK all do fine with class-C, of course. Ed, I suggest that you drive a Class C amp with a K3 transmitting CW and look at the spectra with a P3 both at the output of the rig and at the output of the amp. Set the P3 display for 5 kHz. 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] New K3S
Hi Joe, I received my K3S last week SN 10057. I cannot give you an A-B comparison against the original K3 as I never had one. One thing I can comment on though A to B, is about the speaker audio between the K3 and K3S as I was exposed to several K3's at field day. The speaker audio is MUCH cleaner with better gain and no distortion. I am running the speaker out to a pair of Polk book end speakers (passive) from a surround sound entertainment system. Very clean audio. The internal speaker also presents a very clean, loud, undistorted quality. Any other comparisons would be compared against my previous Icom ProIII, which so far is night and day! I have the following roofing filters set up. 6Khz, 2.7Khz, 500hz and 250hz. I am amazed at how tight this receiver is with these roofing filters, and the flexibility of all RX options compared to what I was using. With regard to the preamps, I can only compare to ProIII, and the S/N with pre amp 1 or 2 in has a much higher signal level to noise floor increase. Very clean. I am still in the learning mode at this time! 73 Gene, N9TF K3S - 10057 - Original Message - From: Joe W2KJ w...@bellsouth.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, July 27, 2015 4:02:28 PM Subject: [Elecraft] New K3S Howdy Gang: I wonder if anyone has received a new K3S yet?? Would certainly appreciate any comments as to performance, receive audio quality, new preamps, etc, etc. Many thanks for any info. 73, Joe W2KJ I QRP, therefore I am __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to n...@comcast.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] New K3S
Howdy Gang: I wonder if anyone has received a new K3S yet?? Would certainly appreciate any comments as to performance, receive audio quality, new preamps, etc, etc. Many thanks for any info. 73, Joe W2KJ I QRP, therefore I am __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
I'd have to dig out my old circuit diagrams, but it seems like when we used Class C amps back in the day (1950's and 60s) we keyed the output stage, not only the driver as with linear amps -- and we modulated the output stage in the AM days, too. 73, Phil W7OX On 7/27/15 11:42 AM, Jim Brown wrote: On Mon,7/27/2015 10:43 AM, Edward R Cole wrote: CW, JT65, FSK all do fine with class-C, of course. Ed, I suggest that you drive a Class C amp with a K3 transmitting CW and look at the spectra with a P3 both at the output of the rig and at the output of the amp. Set the P3 display for 5 kHz. 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] New K3S
Just finished assembling 10122. Kit, loaded. Integration into shack starting this evening. Nothing to report. Jim ab3cv On Mon, Jul 27, 2015 at 5:02 PM, Joe W2KJ w...@bellsouth.net wrote: Howdy Gang: I wonder if anyone has received a new K3S yet?? Would certainly appreciate any comments as to performance, receive audio quality, new preamps, etc, etc. Many thanks for any info. 73, Joe W2KJ I QRP, therefore I am __ 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 j...@jtmiller.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] New K3S
Joe W2KJ w...@bellsouth.net wrote: Howdy Gang: I wonder if anyone has received a new K3S yet?? Hi Joe, We have shipped a few dozen, but some have not been received yet, and probably half were kits, which take longer to come on-line. Some of those received have already been mentioned on this forum, or on the Yahoo group (search for K3S in the archives). But only a small percentage of our customers participate in the forum at any given time. In addition to forum comments, the first customer to post an eHam review of the K3S created a product category for it: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12433 There are two reviews so far, both very thoughtful (and long -- proceed with caution :) We're of course very happy to see so many positive comments. There are also a few minor negative points, typical of any product. We take these as constructive input toward future improvements. One reviewer with a very sensitive sense of touch (speculation on my part) commented that he could feel the felt pad under the VFO knob. This pad is intended to create drag, and the amount of drag is adjustable. But, haptics being in the fingers of the beholder, I emailed him to discuss hypothetical alternatives. I'm sure there will be additional postings and reviews soon. Meanwhile, we're working out a few last annoyances in our shipping procedure in hopes of shipping more quickly. We'll also have a new firmware release for the K3/K3S this week. 73, Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] New K3S
Yesterday we had the first K3S check in for the Elecraft CW Net. Comparing K2s, K1s, KX1s, K3s, KX3s, and the new K3Ss is fun :) It is hard to tell them apart unless the owner tells you which they are running. 73, Kevin. KD5ONS On 7/27/2015 2:48 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: Joe W2KJ w...@bellsouth.net wrote: Howdy Gang: I wonder if anyone has received a new K3S yet?? Hi Joe, We have shipped a few dozen, but some have not been received yet, and probably half were kits, which take longer to come on-line. Some of those received have already been mentioned on this forum, or on the Yahoo group (search for K3S in the archives). But only a small percentage of our customers participate in the forum at any given time. In addition to forum comments, the first customer to post an eHam review of the K3S created a product category for it: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12433 There are two reviews so far, both very thoughtful (and long -- proceed with caution :) We're of course very happy to see so many positive comments. There are also a few minor negative points, typical of any product. We take these as constructive input toward future improvements. One reviewer with a very sensitive sense of touch (speculation on my part) commented that he could feel the felt pad under the VFO knob. This pad is intended to create drag, and the amount of drag is adjustable. But, haptics being in the fingers of the beholder, I emailed him to discuss hypothetical alternatives. I'm sure there will be additional postings and reviews soon. Meanwhile, we're working out a few last annoyances in our shipping procedure in hopes of shipping more quickly. We'll also have a new firmware release for the K3/K3S this week. 73, Wayne N6KR __ 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 kev...@coho.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] New K3S
K3S #10125 was born Saturday, July 25th, 3pm. It’s companion PX3, yesterday. Still calibrating, but I just wanted to send five stars to everyone at Elecraft on yet again another wonderful experience in kit building. So much detailed thought goes into packaging, the assembly manual, and of course, the style and design. If you’re new to Elecraft and you’re exploring building a kit, just know you are expertly guided through the build process by thee best people in this business. I do admit I confused a 4.0mm spacer with a 4.8mm spacer, but that was in hour 7 of the build. I’ll forgive myself for that! :—) Five stars people. Bravo, bravo, bravo. David Ahrendts, KC0XT, Los Angeles On Jul 27, 2015, at 3:11 PM, Keith Robinson w4...@charter.net wrote: Hello All, I have K3S s/n 10027. I have had it since July 6th and I am VERY happy with the K3S. It out performs any other radio I have ever used. I can't wait to get home from work every day so I can use the radio. The best Ham Radio purchase I've ever made! Keith Robinson W4KTR -Original Message- From: kev...@coho.net Sent: Monday, July 27, 2015 5:57 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New K3S Yesterday we had the first K3S check in for the Elecraft CW Net. Comparing K2s, K1s, KX1s, K3s, KX3s, and the new K3Ss is fun :) It is hard to tell them apart unless the owner tells you which they are running. 73, Kevin. KD5ONS On 7/27/2015 2:48 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: Joe W2KJ w...@bellsouth.net wrote: Howdy Gang: I wonder if anyone has received a new K3S yet?? Hi Joe, We have shipped a few dozen, but some have not been received yet, and probably half were kits, which take longer to come on-line. Some of those received have already been mentioned on this forum, or on the Yahoo group (search for K3S in the archives). But only a small percentage of our customers participate in the forum at any given time. In addition to forum comments, the first customer to post an eHam review of the K3S created a product category for it: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12433 There are two reviews so far, both very thoughtful (and long -- proceed with caution :) We're of course very happy to see so many positive comments. There are also a few minor negative points, typical of any product. We take these as constructive input toward future improvements. One reviewer with a very sensitive sense of touch (speculation on my part) commented that he could feel the felt pad under the VFO knob. This pad is intended to create drag, and the amount of drag is adjustable. But, haptics being in the fingers of the beholder, I emailed him to discuss hypothetical alternatives. I'm sure there will be additional postings and reviews soon. Meanwhile, we're working out a few last annoyances in our shipping procedure in hopes of shipping more quickly. We'll also have a new firmware release for the K3/K3S this week. 73, Wayne N6KR __ 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 kev...@coho.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to w4...@charter.net --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to davidahren...@me.com David Ahrendts davidahren...@me.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] New K3S
Finishing up s/n 10111. Starting on the sub receiver tonight. A few typos in the assembly manual - expected as they make the transition from the K3 - but no show-stoppers. I'll post some suggested edits soon. 73, Ian N8IK -Original Message- From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Joe W2KJ Sent: Monday, July 27, 2015 17:02 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] New K3S Howdy Gang: I wonder if anyone has received a new K3S yet?? Would certainly appreciate any comments as to performance, receive audio quality, new preamps, etc, etc. Many thanks for any info. 73, Joe W2KJ I QRP, therefore I am __ 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 ik7...@verizon.net - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.6081 / Virus Database: 4401/10314 - Release Date: 07/26/15 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] New K3S
Hello All, I have K3S s/n 10027. I have had it since July 6th and I am VERY happy with the K3S. It out performs any other radio I have ever used. I can't wait to get home from work every day so I can use the radio. The best Ham Radio purchase I've ever made! Keith Robinson W4KTR -Original Message- From: kev...@coho.net Sent: Monday, July 27, 2015 5:57 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New K3S Yesterday we had the first K3S check in for the Elecraft CW Net. Comparing K2s, K1s, KX1s, K3s, KX3s, and the new K3Ss is fun :) It is hard to tell them apart unless the owner tells you which they are running. 73, Kevin. KD5ONS On 7/27/2015 2:48 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: Joe W2KJ w...@bellsouth.net wrote: Howdy Gang: I wonder if anyone has received a new K3S yet?? Hi Joe, We have shipped a few dozen, but some have not been received yet, and probably half were kits, which take longer to come on-line. Some of those received have already been mentioned on this forum, or on the Yahoo group (search for K3S in the archives). But only a small percentage of our customers participate in the forum at any given time. In addition to forum comments, the first customer to post an eHam review of the K3S created a product category for it: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12433 There are two reviews so far, both very thoughtful (and long -- proceed with caution :) We're of course very happy to see so many positive comments. There are also a few minor negative points, typical of any product. We take these as constructive input toward future improvements. One reviewer with a very sensitive sense of touch (speculation on my part) commented that he could feel the felt pad under the VFO knob. This pad is intended to create drag, and the amount of drag is adjustable. But, haptics being in the fingers of the beholder, I emailed him to discuss hypothetical alternatives. I'm sure there will be additional postings and reviews soon. Meanwhile, we're working out a few last annoyances in our shipping procedure in hopes of shipping more quickly. We'll also have a new firmware release for the K3/K3S this week. 73, Wayne N6KR __ 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 kev...@coho.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to w4...@charter.net --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
Interesting discussion, but I'm now confused. In all the old handbooks the discussion of amplifier design says ( page 76, 1941) In amateur transmitters, and r.f. amplifier is invariably operated Class C ( see Chaptr 3). I though the final tuned circuit was simply pulsed at the RF freq and then the output filtering knocked off harmonics leaving a clean CW note. And in the article on construction of a 100-175 watt CW transmitter ( page 155-157) the 6L6 crystal oscillator was cathode keyed with a bit of RC shaping. Rest of stages powered up when in transmit. And I thought these days some AM broadcast transmitters operated Class E. Clearly not linear. 73, tom w7sua On 7/26/2015 9:32 PM, Alan wrote: CW would be another mode that would not need a linear amp I think. No, CW requires a linear amplifier. CW is not constant-amplitude - the amplitude changes every time you open or close the key. A class-C amplifier would mess up the key shaping, causing key clicks. Any true FSK or MSK signal should not be bothered by a non-linear amplifier. The only caveat I can think of is that the amplitude of an AFSK signal may have some ripple on it to the extent that the passband of the transmit crystal filter is not flat. But I doubt that's a significant issue. Alan N1AL On 07/26/2015 06:57 PM, Tom Azlin W7SUA wrote: Hi Don and Alan, I was thinking one of the slow multi tone FSK modes that are a single tone at a time. WSQ is in the same class. http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu/SOFT/WSQ.htm CW would be another mode that would not need a linear amp I think. On the other hand PSK31 would require a linear amp. 73, tom w7sua On 7/26/2015 5:43 PM, Alan wrote: On 07/26/2015 05:32 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: Soundcard sourced digital modes are really SSB signals and need a linear amplifier. The one exception might be FSK. It is constant-amplitude so a class C amplifier should be fine. FSK modes include RTTY and I believe WSPR and WSJT. Alan N1AL __ 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 t...@w7sua.org __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to n...@sonic.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to t...@w7sua.org __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
In the good old tube days, typically the transmitter's final amplifier was the keyed stage, or at least one of them. So the key shaping was not degraded by a subsequent amplifier. It's OK if the PA is a class C amplifier as long as the key shaping circuit takes that into account. One way to get away with using a separate class C amplifier it to use a two-stage grid bias circuit. A fixed voltage biases the tube so that it draws a little resting current (like a linear class B amplifier) and the rest of the bias is developed from a grid-leak resistor, which only kicks in when RF is applied to the input. So as the RF input ramps up at the beginning of a dit, there is no abrupt transition from off to on. It still increases the slope of the rise and fall, so it does increase key clicks, but not as bad as with pure fixed bias. You can compensate by slowing down the rise/fall times of the key shaping circuit. Alan N1AL On 07/27/2015 04:57 PM, Tom Azlin W7SUA wrote: Interesting discussion, but I'm now confused. In all the old handbooks the discussion of amplifier design says ( page 76, 1941) In amateur transmitters, and r.f. amplifier is invariably operated Class C ( see Chaptr 3). __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] New K3S
Wayne is off in one minor respect - we've shipped well more than a few dozen K3S radios and are well into the hundreds now. :-) 73, Eric /elecraft.com/ On 7/27/2015 2:48 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: Joe W2KJ w...@bellsouth.net wrote: Howdy Gang: I wonder if anyone has received a new K3S yet?? === Hi Joe, We have shipped a few dozen, but some have not been received yet, and probably half were kits, which take longer to come on-line. Some of those received have already been mentioned on this forum, or on the Yahoo group (search for K3S in the archives). But only a small percentage of our customers participate in the forum at any given time. In addition to forum comments, the first customer to post an eHam review of the K3S created a product category for it: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12433 There are two reviews so far, both very thoughtful (and long -- proceed with caution :) We're of course very happy to see so many positive comments. There are also a few minor negative points, typical of any product. We take these as constructive input toward future improvements. One reviewer with a very sensitive sense of touch (speculation on my part) commented that he could feel the felt pad under the VFO knob. This pad is intended to create drag, and the amount of drag is adjustable. But, haptics being in the fingers of the beholder, I emailed him to discuss hypothetical alternatives. I'm sure there will be additional postings and reviews soon. Meanwhile, we're working out a few last annoyances in our shipping procedure in hopes of shipping more quickly. We'll also have a new firmware release for the K3/K3S this week. 73, Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
Those first point contact transistors such as the CK722 were rather 'finicky'. Not much margin for error, and they were expensive. Now we can buy 2NAs for pennies. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/27/2015 8:49 PM, Alan wrote: You could abuse a spark transmitter, but the tubes would die if you weren't gentle with them. Reminds me of comments I heard hams make about transistors during the tube-to-transistor transition 50 years ago. Alan N1AL __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] New K3S
K3S 10081 is on the air. Still integrating it into the shack. First contact was on 80 meters with the local HF net. Second was a ZL1 on the North Island on 40. Hard to compare it with other radios -- this replaces an Icom IC-7000, which isn't at all in the same league. Still learning how to run it. Still trying to figure out digital modes -- any places on the net to visit where I can find out what they sound like when properly tuned? Still waiting for third party software types to adapt their code to the new USB interface, particularly for those digital modes. Also waiting for another pair of filters to arrive. I wrote the (construction) review on eham.net http://eham.net/ -- and I sent off a slew of nits on the Rev A assembly manual, nothing major. Assembly was easy, only requiring three hands in a few places. Enabling options can be a challenge -- that could use a dedicated section with things gathered together in one place. As an example, I just figured out how to get the KXV3's second preamp for 10 and 6 working -- it's in the manual, scattered about a bit, but the magic step is to hit 9 on the keypad when the config menu shows KXV3 rather than KCV3B. Once that's set, the rest is easy. Wonderful radio -- never thought I'd own something of this calibre. My son KG6MOV surprised the hell out of me by getting this for me for father's day (he tried -- I told Mike at Elecraft that I was glad they had the problem of too many orders for the K3S, and hoped they had it for quite a while). It will be our Field Day radio next year. By then we'll be old friends and get along much better. Happy to take questions, hints, and suggestions! 73, bob k6rtm __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
Hi Jim, I do have much more modern handbooks. Current in fact. :) Just remembered more Class C referenced in the older ones. Will have to go read articles back then on key clicks and distortion. And continue to look at what amplifiers I could use on the two soon to be lowest bands. 73, tom w7sua On 7/27/2015 5:13 PM, Jim Brown wrote: On Mon,7/27/2015 4:57 PM, Tom Azlin W7SUA wrote: In all the old handbooks the discussion of amplifier design says ( page 76, 1941) In amateur transmitters, and r.f. amplifier is invariably operated Class C ( see Chaptr 3). I though the final tuned circuit was simply pulsed at the RF freq and then the output filtering knocked off harmonics leaving a clean CW note. Yes and no. Yes, the tank of a class C amp is pulsed and the output network kills the harmonics. But it does NOT kill the intermodulation distortion that is produced by the non-linearity, and that intermod is heard as clicks. BTW -- you need a MUCH newer Handbook. :) 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
On Mon,7/27/2015 4:57 PM, Tom Azlin W7SUA wrote: In all the old handbooks the discussion of amplifier design says ( page 76, 1941) In amateur transmitters, and r.f. amplifier is invariably operated Class C ( see Chaptr 3). I though the final tuned circuit was simply pulsed at the RF freq and then the output filtering knocked off harmonics leaving a clean CW note. Yes and no. Yes, the tank of a class C amp is pulsed and the output network kills the harmonics. But it does NOT kill the intermodulation distortion that is produced by the non-linearity, and that intermod is heard as clicks. BTW -- you need a MUCH newer Handbook. :) 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA-100 with K3?
Frank, The KPA100 is dedicated to the K2. To operate the KPA100, it needs the base K2 MCU to change bands, do T/R switching, and monitor the power output (among other things). Those functions depend on the signals to and from the base K2 MCU. The same is true of the KAT100 mounted in your EC2 enclosure. So yes, the KPA100 can operate as an amplifier, but would need a lot of external control signals. If you are willing to create a digital interface that will provide the proper control signals to the KPA100, then you could make it work, but the expense and trouble to get that working would exceed the price of the KXPA100. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/27/2015 8:00 PM, kg9hfr...@gmail.com wrote: Squinting at my KX3 and my K2 / external KPA100/EC2… Anyone try it? Frank KG9H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
Don, You are making feel old. I remember the CK722. I had one as an audio amp behind a crystal set I built using a 1N34, not sure it was even an A version. I had a 210 foot piece of wire strung from the radio, through my bedroom window to a post in the back of our yard. I could hear, almost all, the AM stations in the Washington, D.C. area, all at once. And, that was in the 1950's. The really nice thing about the set up is that a D cell battery could power the thing to drive high impedance headphones nicely. Coupling to the CK722 was directly to the base with no bias. It worked. It may not have been the best design, but it worked. For a young kid that was all that mattered. 73, Barry K3NDM On 7/27/2015 9:00 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: Those first point contact transistors such as the CK722 were rather 'finicky'. Not much margin for error, and they were expensive. Now we can buy 2NAs for pennies. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/27/2015 8:49 PM, Alan wrote: You could abuse a spark transmitter, but the tubes would die if you weren't gentle with them. Reminds me of comments I heard hams make about transistors during the tube-to-transistor transition 50 years ago. Alan N1AL __ 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 k3...@comcast.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] New K3S
My K3S, S/N 10023, arrived a few weeks ago and I couldn't be happier with it. Never had an original K3, but the receive audio is good and filtering with the matched pair of 400s and the 250 in the main VFO was stunning during the IARU contest. I've only played a little bit on 6m and the preamp does a good job, I guess, but I'm not a big 6m guy to begin with. I have a very noisy amp (Ameritron AL-1200) that sounds like a jet engine. The K3S's noise gate makes phone operation so much better. I'm using an HC-5 boom mic element and without any TX audio EQ, MIC set to 35 (real panel, high) and compression of 12 to 15 I'm getting superb audio reports on-air. True plug-and-play in that department. CW TX is great, receive is like nothing I've ever experienced before (in a *very* good way) and the decode works OK on strong signals for when the other op is just a bit too fast for my ears. Regards, Peter Dougherty, W2IRT DXCC Card Checker/CQ-WAZ Checkpoint www.facebook.com/W2IRT -Original Message- From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Joe W2KJ Sent: Monday, July 27, 2015 5:02 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] New K3S Howdy Gang: I wonder if anyone has received a new K3S yet?? Would certainly appreciate any comments as to performance, receive audio quality, new preamps, etc, etc. Many thanks for any info. 73, Joe W2KJ I QRP, therefore I am __ 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 li...@w2irt.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
OK on all the thread. Ed, Yes, I am interested in following your linear amplifier project. 73, tom w7sua On 7/27/2015 10:43 AM, Edward R Cole wrote: To catch up on the comments I address all that I have so far: Re: linear vs class-C is really a moot point as its easy enough to build a linear at 500-KHz. CW, JT65, FSK all do fine with class-C, of course. And its true that any modulation of a continuous carrier will impart some bandwidth. Its not likely that wide-band digital modes will be approved in a band that is only 7-KHz wide so probably those approved would work with a class-C amp. I think its just simpler to provide class-AB then its a non-issue. Re: 15-dB HF linear amp gain limit. If that is applied to 630m amps then either I sell a kit or partial kit. 1mw in to 1w out is 30-dB and 100w out is 50-dB. I would have to research the regs to see if the limit is for a certain level of input (like 5w). Also the regs allow hams to sell amps to other hams without this restriction (but at what quantity per year?). First off I am not proposing to go into competition with MFJ. This is just a home business building one at a time. If the FCC is going to make this a small (tiny) business killer than its just not worth the bother. If I say more than this it will get political and that is OT. 73, Ed - KL7UW __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] KPA-100 with K3?
Squinting at my KX3 and my K2 / external KPA100/EC2… Anyone try it? Frank KG9H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
Clearly you are not among those who reminisce about the rotary spark gap, Alan :-) 73, Phil W7OX On 7/27/15 1:53 PM, Alan wrote: The need for linear amplifiers with CW has been known for many years. Quoting from the 1964 ARRL Handbook: When key clicks introduced by the addition of an amplifier stage are found only near the transmitter frequency, amplifier clipping is indicated. It is quite common when fixed bias is used on the amplifier and the bias is well past the cut-off value. [In other words, a class C amplifier. Similar to a bipolar transistor amplifier with no base bias.] A linear amplifier (Class AB1, AB2 or B) will amplify the excitation without adding any clicks, and if clicks show up, a low-frequency parasitic oscillation is probably the reason. Alan N1AL __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
On 07/27/2015 05:32 PM, Phil Wheeler wrote: Clearly you are not among those who reminisce about the rotary spark gap, Alan :-) By crackey them vacuum tubes are just too durn delicate for serious ham radio work. Old reliable spark is much more rugged. Quoting from The World of Ham Radio, 1901-1950, A Social History by Richard A. Bartlett talking about the first issue of QST after World War I: In the two years that had elapsed since amateur radio was silenced, impressive progress had been made. Most significant was the development of the vacuum tube. At first known as audions, bulbs or lamps, the originals lacked uniformity, ... needed careful adjustments of the filaments and plate voltage, and were simply too delicate for the Service. You could abuse a spark transmitter, but the tubes would die if you weren't gentle with them. Reminds me of comments I heard hams make about transistors during the tube-to-transistor transition 50 years ago. Alan N1AL __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] P3 Measurements with new K3SYNA Boards
I finally got around to repeating a few measurements using with the new K3SYNA boards. I've added the results near the beginning of P3_Spectrum_Measurements.pdf There's also a measurement of an un-keyed, unmodulated carrier. Executive summary -- the screen of the P3 can display only 80 dB of dynamic range, and within that displayed range, I cannot see any difference in signal bandwidth between the new synth board and the old one. There ARE differences, and I've seen measurements showing significant reduction in phase noise, but it's another 10-20 dB down from the peak. It would be possible to see those differences by lowering the P3 reference level, letting the upper 20 dB of dynamic range run off scale. I've done that with the new K3SYNA boards, but did not do so with the older K3SYN, so I have noting to compare to. :) Note that the only new measurements in the file are those showing the K3 steady carrier and a K3 sending dits at 25W for comparison with older data. 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Measurements with new K3SYNA Boards
Oh oh, Jim: We need a P3A :-) Good you took this on. 73, Phil W7OX On 7/27/15 10:05 PM, Jim Brown wrote: I finally got around to repeating a few measurements using with the new K3SYNA boards. I've added the results near the beginning of P3_Spectrum_Measurements.pdf There's also a measurement of an un-keyed, unmodulated carrier. Executive summary -- the screen of the P3 can display only 80 dB of dynamic range, and within that displayed range, I cannot see any difference in signal bandwidth between the new synth board and the old one. There ARE differences, and I've seen measurements showing significant reduction in phase noise, but it's another 10-20 dB down from the peak. It would be possible to see those differences by lowering the P3 reference level, letting the upper 20 dB of dynamic range run off scale. I've done that with the new K3SYNA boards, but did not do so with the older K3SYN, so I have noting to compare to. :) Note that the only new measurements in the file are those showing the K3 steady carrier and a K3 sending dits at 25W for comparison with older data. 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
Don wrote: Those first point contact transistors such as the CK722 were rather 'finicky'. Point-contact transistors could be variable in terms of electrical characteristics, but mechanically they were a lot better than mythology presents. Regardless, the famous 1953 Raytheon CK722 was *not* a point-contact transistor. It was a Germanium junction transistor. It is very unlikely that anyone here ever worked with point-contact transistors...they disappeared quickly after the junction transistor appeared in 1951. Alan wrote: Reminds me of comments I heard hams make about transistors during the tube-to-transistor transition 50 years ago. They were late talking about it then. I don't recall that argument having much strength left by 1965. The Raytheon SBE-33 HF ham transceiver came out 52 years ago, followed by the SBE-34 two years later. They were all transistor except for driver and finals and were very successful ham rigs. And the most successful military tactical VHF-FM sets of all time...the AN/VRC-12 series and AN/PRC-25, all transistor except for finals, were fully developed by 1961...and remained in some US service until 2008!!! Mike / KK5F __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] New K3S
Bob Martin k6...@comcast.net wrote: Enabling options can be a challenge -- that could use a dedicated section with things gathered together in one place. As an example, I just figured out how to get the KXV3's second preamp for 10 and 6 working -- it's in the manual, scattered about a bit, but the magic step is to hit 9 on the keypad when the config menu shows KXV3 rather than KCV3B. Once that's set, the rest is easy. Hi Bob, We tried to gather all of the configuration settings, such as this one, into a single section. See page 48-50 (Configuration). Thanks again for all your input on the assembly manual. Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
CW also requires a highly stable ALC system, without unwanted dynamics, to preserve ideal envelope shaping. This is lacking on some all-mode rigs that pay little attention to CW. Wayne N6KR On Jul 26, 2015, at 9:32 PM, Alan n...@sonic.net wrote: CW would be another mode that would not need a linear amp I think. No, CW requires a linear amplifier. CW is not constant-amplitude - the amplitude changes every time you open or close the key. A class-C amplifier would mess up the key shaping, causing key clicks. Any true FSK or MSK signal should not be bothered by a non-linear amplifier. The only caveat I can think of is that the amplitude of an AFSK signal may have some ripple on it to the extent that the passband of the transmit crystal filter is not flat. But I doubt that's a significant issue. Alan N1AL On 07/26/2015 06:57 PM, Tom Azlin W7SUA wrote: Hi Don and Alan, I was thinking one of the slow multi tone FSK modes that are a single tone at a time. WSQ is in the same class. http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu/SOFT/WSQ.htm CW would be another mode that would not need a linear amp I think. On the other hand PSK31 would require a linear amp. 73, tom w7sua On 7/26/2015 5:43 PM, Alan wrote: On 07/26/2015 05:32 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: Soundcard sourced digital modes are really SSB signals and need a linear amplifier. The one exception might be FSK. It is constant-amplitude so a class C amplifier should be fine. FSK modes include RTTY and I believe WSPR and WSJT. Alan N1AL __ 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 t...@w7sua.org __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to n...@sonic.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to n...@elecraft.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KX3 Memory Editing Utility (revisited yet again)
On Sun 26 Jul Matt Zilmer wrote: Since both functions are already available, That availability is limited. Windows is covered, and there's a beta version on Mac (which seem to work OK) but nothing yet for linux. It's a pity the function isn't included in the relevant Utility programs. -- 73, Rick, M0LEP (KX3 #3281) __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
It depends on how you made the amplifier. I produce some models of amplifiers, of different powers, all in switching operation. Here an image of the DK7FC grabber, you can see at 472.1 KHz the spectrogram of a German station that use a class D amplifier, at 472.5 an Italian station that use a 400W tube linear amplifier and at 473.3 there is my signal with my QRO+ switching PA. https://www.dropbox.com/s/oziocm3vshfftgl/19012015.JPG?dl=0 I can assure that I often find local stations operating at 250-300 Hz from my frequency that are not minimally disturbed I do not think that a linear amplifier is so better. I also made a 100W output amplifier specifically designed for the K3. This amplifier runs at 12 volt. All my PA need an input signal (adjustable) from -10dBm to + 20 dBm https://www.dropbox.com/s/u2yjp0ltv0kbsy5/K3%20and%20Pa.jpg?dl=0 73, Fausto IK4NMF __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 630m amplifiers
A CW amplifier can be designed to run class-C but to be keyed in such a way as to pass through the linear portion of the amplifying device's curve when a CW element is starting or ending, in order to preserve the shaping. A simple example is the tube-type amplifier that has just enough fixed bias applied to allow a small amount of plate current to flow (class AB), with a grid resistor that provides the rest of the bias as a result of rectified grid current as the drive ramps up. At full power the tube is running class C with bias way beyond cutoff. Good 1950's technology that can be made a little more sophisticated and applied today! 73, Vic, 4X6GP/K2VCO Rehovot, Israel http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ On 27 Jul 2015 07:32, Alan wrote: CW would be another mode that would not need a linear amp I think. No, CW requires a linear amplifier. CW is not constant-amplitude - the amplitude changes every time you open or close the key. A class-C amplifier would mess up the key shaping, causing key clicks. Any true FSK or MSK signal should not be bothered by a non-linear amplifier. The only caveat I can think of is that the amplitude of an AFSK signal may have some ripple on it to the extent that the passband of the transmit crystal filter is not flat. But I doubt that's a significant issue. Alan N1AL __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
