Re: [Elecraft] Vertical antennas Was: KX3 and KPA1500 compatibility

[Eric Norris]

I operated my HF-2V vertical for about 10 years with 6 radials.  Then, I
added 60 more for 66 total radials.  I thatched the living bejesus out of
my back lawn, stapled down the radials bolted to a DXE SS plate, and the
lawn regrew, the radials never to be seen again.

The difference was astonishing.  Tonight I worked 3B7M on 40m cw on that
vertical, despite strong local noise.  Admittedly, my KPA1500 was squeakin'
from the freakin'  But, on other occasions, I have worked a JA stopped on
his local bridge running 5w.  It's not a beam, or even a high dipole, but
verticals do work with a proper counterpoise.

ON4UN's book, Guide to Low-Band DXing, has an excellent chapter on
verticals.  RIP.

73 Eric WD6DBM

On Mon, Mar 6, 2023, 3:00 PM Alan Bloom  wrote:

> On 3/6/23 15:08, Jim Brown wrote:
> > Most (but not all) verticals need radials to transmit a decent signal.
> > A vertical that needs radials is a lousy TX antenna without them.
>
> Right.
>
> I use a 6BTV, which is a 6-band trap vertical about 24 ft tall. With a
> barefoot K4 at 100W I get out quite well.  Obviously I can't compete
> with the "big guns" running kilowatt amplifiers and beams at 120 feet,
> but I do work lots of DX.  I can crack most pileups with enough patience.
>
> The trick is that the antenna has 40 radials, each one 32 ft long buried
> an inch or two in the sand at my desert location.
>
> The old joke that a vertical is an antenna that radiates equally poorly
> in all directions is only true if you have a poor radial system.
>
> 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 norrislawfi...@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] KX3 and KPA1500 compatibility

[john]

Your questions regarding if you can use a KPA100 and KPA1500 together has
been recently asked on this list and the answer was YES.

I suspect, as K9YC noted, that the real issue is with your antenna.  You did
not specify exactly what you have tried.  A 1/4 vertical with a decent
counterpoise will work very well but I suspect that the vertical you tried
was something else. A simple center fed 1/2 WL dipole with the center as
high as possible should also get you into the net with your 100 watts amp,
no tuner needed.  

John KK9A



Karl AF5LQ wrote:

I have a KX3 and a KPA100 amplifier but despite various attempts at
verticals, end feds, OCFs, and loops, am unable to call anyone, especially
on Elecraft 80 m Sunday nets on 3.784 or 3.786. Reception is adequate with
most 5/8 or 5/9 and verify against the call- in list. A lot of people seem
to get by with a KPA 500 but reception is not as solid as those running the
legal limit. My understanding is that the KX3 is compatible with the KPA
500. What about the KPA1500?
Question: Is it possible / practical/ safe to daisy-chain a KX3 to a KPA100
and drive a KPA1500? 
Thanks and 73, 
Karl AF5LQ

__
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] Vertical antennas Was: KX3 and KPA1500 compatibility

[jerry]

I too have a 6BTV.  It used to have 50 radials.  They were a pain in the 
whatchum, always getting caught by the weed whacker.  But

they made a big difference in the performance of the antenna.

Now, it has one "radial".  Actually an Ufer ground, consisting of a 
concrete slab, 70 feet long by 10 feet wide, with 80 feet
of 8AWG copper wire buried in it.  The slab is actually a solar 
collection field for our swimming pool.   I left a space in the middle 
for the antenna.  I was going to do radials, but had a sudden thought - 
I'd be a fool if I didn't bury some wire in that concrete.  So I ran to 
the local hardware store, grabbed a roll of 8AWG off their rack, and 
strung it around the site, hooking it up to the rebars.  Then they came 
and poured the concrete.


  The Ufer ground seems to perform about as well as the radials did.  If 
it didn't, I would have run radials


  - Jerry, KF6VB

\
On 2023-03-06 14:59, Alan Bloom wrote:

On 3/6/23 15:08, Jim Brown wrote:
Most (but not all) verticals need radials to transmit a decent signal. 
A vertical that needs radials is a lousy TX antenna without them.


Right.

I use a 6BTV, which is a 6-band trap vertical about 24 ft tall. With a
barefoot K4 at 100W I get out quite well.  Obviously I can't compete
with the "big guns" running kilowatt amplifiers and beams at 120 feet,
but I do work lots of DX.  I can crack most pileups with enough
patience.

The trick is that the antenna has 40 radials, each one 32 ft long
buried an inch or two in the sand at my desert location.

The old joke that a vertical is an antenna that radiates equally
poorly in all directions is only true if you have a poor radial
system.

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 je...@tr2.com

__
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com 

[Elecraft] Vertical antennas Was: KX3 and KPA1500 compatibility

[Alan Bloom]

On 3/6/23 15:08, Jim Brown wrote:
Most (but not all) verticals need radials to transmit a decent signal. 
A vertical that needs radials is a lousy TX antenna without them.


Right.

I use a 6BTV, which is a 6-band trap vertical about 24 ft tall. With a 
barefoot K4 at 100W I get out quite well.  Obviously I can't compete 
with the "big guns" running kilowatt amplifiers and beams at 120 feet, 
but I do work lots of DX.  I can crack most pileups with enough patience.


The trick is that the antenna has 40 radials, each one 32 ft long buried 
an inch or two in the sand at my desert location.


The old joke that a vertical is an antenna that radiates equally poorly 
in all directions is only true if you have a poor radial system.


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] KX3 and KPA1500 compatibility

[Jim Brown]

Hi Karl,

I suspect your problem may be the antennas you've tried, which are not 
wonderful for 75/80M. Almost any antenna will receive well if you don't 
have a lot of noise, but transmitting a strong signal needs a better 
one, and well installed.


 How far are you from the nets you're trying to work? How tall was that 
vertical? What model? Most (but not all) verticals need radials to 
transmit a decent signal. A vertical that needs radials is a lousy TX 
antenna without them.


Most end-fed antennas need a counterpoise to transmit well. Did you have 
one?


How high were those other antennas? Horizontal antennas work better if 
they're high. Do you have skyhooks positioned so that you could rig a 
75M dipole (it's roughly 120 ft long)? They're easy to build and should 
be fed with coax. There are shortened dipoles with loading coils that 
can fit between closer supports.


Have you studied the antenna section of the ARRL Handbook,or the ARRL 
Antenna Book?


Most of the antennas you've described probably need a tuner to load 
efficiently. The KPA500 does NOT include a tuner, so the KAT500 would 
likely be needed. The KPA1500 includes an excellent tuner. 2-3W will 
yield 100W on most bands, about twice that for 200-250W. Yes, you can 
certainly daisy-chain the two amps to get legal limit with as little as 
1W from the KX3.


73, Jim K9YC

On 3/6/2023 1:01 PM, Karl W Hubbard via Elecraft wrote:

I have a KX3 and a KPA100 amplifier but despite various attempts at verticals, 
end feds, OCFs, and loops, am unable to call anyone, especially on Elecraft 80 
m Sunday nets on 3.784 or 3.786. Reception is adequate with most 5/8 or 5/9 and 
verify against the call- in list. A lot of people seem to get by with a KPA 500 
but reception is not as solid as those running the legal limit. My 
understanding is that the KX3 is compatible with the KPA 500. What about the 
KPA1500?
Question: Is it possible / practical/ safe to daisy-chain a KX3 to a KPA100 and 
drive a KPA1500?


__
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] KX3 and KPA1500 compatibility

[Karl W Hubbard via Elecraft]

I have a KX3 and a KPA100 amplifier but despite various attempts at verticals, 
end feds, OCFs, and loops, am unable to call anyone, especially on Elecraft 80 
m Sunday nets on 3.784 or 3.786. Reception is adequate with most 5/8 or 5/9 and 
verify against the call- in list. A lot of people seem to get by with a KPA 500 
but reception is not as solid as those running the legal limit. My 
understanding is that the KX3 is compatible with the KPA 500. What about the 
KPA1500?
Question: Is it possible / practical/ safe to daisy-chain a KX3 to a KPA100 and 
drive a KPA1500? 
Thanks and 73, 
Karl AF5LQ


Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
__
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] K3 Sale

[bhtoub]

The pending sale of the K3 #5024 was sold. Thanks to everyone that
was interested.
__
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 ERR DSE / E 000202 DD0VS

[Keith Trinity WE6R]

Harald;
What is the serial # of the K3?
If older, did you change the P30 and P35 front panel pins (to RF board) 
to gold?.
If you have a sub receiver, make sure it is enabled and then check FW 
revisions, if the AUX DSP board has mismatched FW, you can get ERR DSE.

Keith WE6R Elecraft K3/K4 Tech

__
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] Elecraft 80M SSB Net Report

[Dave New, N8SBE]

Oops, we did NOT QSY the net last night.  Copy 'n paste error...

On 2023-03-05 20:59, Dave New, N8SBE wrote:
3784 kHz (we moved to 3786 kHz this evening), 9PM ET Sunday (0200Z 
Monday).


Thanks to the following check ins (w) and relays (rel):

   Call State Radio/Amp Name
1 WB9JNZILFTdx101d  Eric (rel),(w)
2 W4CBS FLK4/KPA500 Don (w)
3 W4KBX FLK3s/KPA500Richard (w)
4 WY3T  FLK3s/KPA500Tim (w)
5 KE3KQ PAK4D   Ben (w)
6 N8SBE MIK3s/KPA500Dave (w),(op)
7 KB1NU MAK4D/KPA500John (w)
8 AE1E  TXK4D   Ken (w)

Good conditions on 80M tonight, although there was some QSB and some
QRN from lightning in the IA/IL area. My antenna behaved this evening,
and we were able to pull in check-ins from FL, TX, PA, and MA.

Hope to see you next week, and tell your friends!

73,

-- Dave, N8SBE
__
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 n8...@densbe.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] K4 & KPOD

[hawley, charles j jr]

I've used two KPods connected to the K4 at the same time. The buttons are the 
same of course but the knobs can be VFO A and VFOB which is kind of handy at 
times.

​Chuck Hawley
 c-haw...@illinois.edu

 Amateur Radio, KE9UW
 aka Jack, BMW Motorcycles


From: Ramon Batista 
Sent: Sunday, March 5, 2023 5:20 PM
To: Fred Jensen 
Cc: Elecraft Reflector 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K4 & KPOD

Hi Fred, My KPOD is connected to my K4 and K3s, but can use it in one radio
at the time.

On Sun, Mar 5, 2023 at 6:11 PM Fred Jensen  wrote:

> Do I understand the K4 order page correctly that my KPOD currently on my
> K3 will also plug into and work with a K4 ... should I decide to spring
> for one?
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
>
>
>
> --
> This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.avg.com__;!!DZ3fjg!59NHZFIm05qi0DhiZ3xbuEtS_uMG6d7ZLaf7Ers_p4nZLJ0h4nxS6rGm57K7xlH06pmkTLndkXP8sGb4MBbCZGfQ5p_-5VpestXYPQ$
> __
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: 
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft__;!!DZ3fjg!59NHZFIm05qi0DhiZ3xbuEtS_uMG6d7ZLaf7Ers_p4nZLJ0h4nxS6rGm57K7xlH06pmkTLndkXP8sGb4MBbCZGfQ5p_-5VpoF4hqWA$
> Help: 
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm__;!!DZ3fjg!59NHZFIm05qi0DhiZ3xbuEtS_uMG6d7ZLaf7Ers_p4nZLJ0h4nxS6rGm57K7xlH06pmkTLndkXP8sGb4MBbCZGfQ5p_-5VpaLvo6Qw$
> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: 
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.qsl.net__;!!DZ3fjg!59NHZFIm05qi0DhiZ3xbuEtS_uMG6d7ZLaf7Ers_p4nZLJ0h4nxS6rGm57K7xlH06pmkTLndkXP8sGb4MBbCZGfQ5p_-5VoIkWVHUQ$
> Please help support this email list: 
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.qsl.net/donate.html__;!!DZ3fjg!59NHZFIm05qi0DhiZ3xbuEtS_uMG6d7ZLaf7Ers_p4nZLJ0h4nxS6rGm57K7xlH06pmkTLndkXP8sGb4MBbCZGfQ5p_-5Vpn5EvZWg$
> Message delivered to wd4x...@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 

[Elecraft] KX3 Station

[AB1DD]

Selling complete KX3 station: (Re-posted with updated prices)

KX3 has antenna tuner, Real time clock, battery pack, Gems Products side
panels and clear protective cover. MH-3 mic and power cable also 
included. New

price $1720. my price: $1250 shipped in US.

PX3 Has Gems Products side panels and protective clear cover. New $740 My
price: $500 shipped in US.

KXPA100 Amp. Has internal tuner, power and connecting cables. New $1580. My
price: $1150 shipped.
Everything in like new condition. Please note that a lot of the above is on
back-order from Elecraft. This is your chance to have a KX3 station in 
days in

stead of weeks or months!

I'm willing to split up the package, priced as listed.
Price for all: $2800 shipped.

Local (in person) sales contact me.
ab...@comcast.net  (AB1DD @ comcast.net Delete the spaces)


--
73,
Carl
AB1DD

Resistance is futile.
(don't know about reactance, though)

__
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] K-1 trouble shooting

[Dan Coleman]

Yes, I can toggle AGC  on and off. No S-meter when on. I have also gone thru 
the troubleshooting section of the manual. All is within reasonable parameters. 
Q1 & Q2 test good. I have checked the path back to U1 pin 2 on the front panel. 
The S on Q1 stays at +1volt no matter if AGC is on or off. Voltage on cathode 
of D2 on RF board is .75 when AGC is on and zero when AGC is off. I have 
rechecked the component assembly of the front panel and it is correct.
Dan, W8KMX

Get Outlook for iOS

From: Mike Morrow 
Sent: Monday, March 6, 2023 7:21:01 AM
To: w8kmx ; elecraft@mailman.qth.net 

Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K-1 trouble shooting

Have you verified K1 MENU item AGC is toggled to ON?   AGC ON is required for 
the S-meter to function.  See last page of K1 manual for quick reference.

FWIW, almost NO  Elecraft model designation uses hyphens or dashes. :-)

Mike / KK5F

-Original Message-
From: w8kmx 
Sent: Mar 5, 2023 5:00 PM

I obtained a K-1 partially assembled. I completed assembly. All seems to work 
except there is no AGC nor S meter.I have measured voltages per the manual and 
checked components but I can't find problem. Any suggestions?Dan, W8KMX


__
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] K-1 trouble shooting

[Mike Morrow]

Have you verified K1 MENU item AGC is toggled to ON?   AGC ON is required for 
the S-meter to function.  See last page of K1 manual for quick reference.

FWIW, almost NO  Elecraft model designation uses hyphens or dashes. :-)

Mike / KK5F

-Original Message-
From: w8kmx 
Sent: Mar 5, 2023 5:00 PM

I obtained a K-1 partially assembled. I completed assembly. All seems to work 
except there is no AGC nor S meter.I have measured voltages per the manual and 
checked components but I can't find problem. Any suggestions?Dan, W8KMX


__
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 P3 WITH SVGA AND TXMON .

[Ramon Batista]

*WD4X.*

*For Sale An Elecraft P3-F Panadapter With TXMON And SVGA Options. The Unit
Is In Excellent Cosmetic And Operational Conditions With No Dents, Dings Or
Scratches. The Sale Include The Power Cable, BNC To BNC Cable, DB9 Male To
Female Cable For K3 And CBLP3Y Cable For K3S. Latest Firmware Update Is
Done. The Unit Will Be Shipped In The Original Box With Inserts. Will Trade
It For ICOM 7300 Or Elecraft K2-100. Asking Price Is $900.00 Shipped And
Insured And Payment Through Zelle, USPS Money Order Or Check. My QRZ
Information Is Up To Date And Phone Number 239-227-9414.*

*Ray WD4X.*
__
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