Re: [Elecraft] OT: Bose QC Mic Modification
Sony MDR-NC6. $49.95 at Radio Shack. Add'l benefit is the noise cancelling feature, which seems to work well only with low frequency noise. 73, matt, W6NIA K3 #24 On Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:47:13 -0600, you wrote: Hello, The high range of my hearing is greatly attenuated from too many years working on Flight decks and around jet engines. So I have no need for a pair of high performance $250.00 headphones. But, I'm looking for a new set. Does anyone have any recommendations for a full size pair in the $50.00 range? Best, DW Holtmen WB7SSN - Original Message - From: Brett Howard [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Joe Subich, W4TV [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; 'AE4CW' [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2008 6:26 PM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] OT: Bose QC Mic Modification I'm no where near as pleased with the ER6's as I am the 4's. The 6's are a lot bigger and a bit cumbersome and no one that I know of will make a full ear mold of them. As far as the mic I use a Heil GM4 and a Heil Boom. On Sun, 2008-03-23 at 12:07 -0400, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: 250 is pretty cheap. I paid more than that when you add up what I paid for the ER4P's and the molds separately. Yet still in pretty much all of the monitors I've listened to the Etymotics are about as antiseptic as I've found. The performance ratings of the ER6P is only slightly lower than the ER4P, isolation is similar and they can be found for $80 at many places on the web. If you want maximum sound isolation, choose the ER6i (it has the three flange tips vs. 2 flange tips with the ER4P and ER6P). The only problem with the ER4/ER6 is there is no place for the (headset) mic G. 73, ... Joe, W4TV ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Added FM filter and have new error
Hi Dave, The K3 Owner's Manual (rev A30), p57 shows ERR BP2 as being related to the KBPF3. Specifically, that error would mean the KBPF3 is not physically installed (or not working if it is installed), but the CONFIG menu's KBPF3 shows it installed. The error occurs when the MCU can't communicate with the KBPF3. You might want to make sure the KBPF3 entry in the CONFIG menu shows 'not inst' rather than 'nor', if you don't have the KBPF3 plugged in. If you do, then there may be a problem with the KBPF3. 73, matt, W6NIA K3 # 24, K2 #2810 On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:29:58 -0700 (PDT), you wrote: I got the FM filter and installed it. I had to move the 3 filters I had in the K3 down one slot for each filter. I set up each filter in the new slot in the config menu but now I get an ERR BP2 error. Can any one point me in the right direction? Thanks, Dave - NZ6D ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 100 Watt Pa Problem
You might want to make sure your power supply isn't doing its foldback or current limiting thing. If it is, symptoms you've described should repeat 100% of the time. matt, W6NIA k3 # 24 On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:19:11 -0600, you wrote: Hello, I just noticed something else on this problem. The whole radio resets, like turning it off then on again. The word Elecraft pops up on the LCD and the DSP red light blinks on, just like I turned it off then on again. Any suggestions? Best, DW Holtman WB7SSN - Original Message - From: DW Holtman [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 2:09 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K2 100 Watt Pa Problem Hello, I was wondering if anyone else has had a problem like ythis one? I'm was in the process of finishing up my KPA 100. All of the power supply, bias adjustments etc went as per the book. When I got to page 50 in the manual to test the transmitter at high power the problem shows up. With the Power out turned to around 11 watts, the relay clicks and the power out is taken over by the KPA 100. Every thing works great until I get to right at 20 watts. Any power level 20 watts or over, when it is keyed, a relay klicks, power out shuts off and nothing out. At 18 watts the power out from the KPA 100 is fine. There are no error messages that I can find, even on the secondary message menus. Any suggestions why the PA works up to 20 watts then shuts down with no error message? Best, DW Holtman WB7SSN - Original Message - From: Ron D'Eau Claire [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Nelson Wittstock' [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 2:00 PM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Soldering station I just ordered the new KXV3 RXA board for my K3. The instructions state requirements for the soldering station to be used in the installation of the new board. My workshop has never had need for high tech soldering and consequently I do not own a soldering station. I have several assorted soldering irons and guns that have served me well in the past but I guess I will have to join the modern world. Since I would like to keep updating my K3 it looks like I will need to buy a soldering station. In looking through Googled references I see many stations in the $100 and up range. Is it absolutely necessary to spend that much to ensure the safety of my radio or are there some less expensive suitable alternatives? Nelson - K8DJC -- That mod is one of the easiest in terms of soldering. You are soldering two fine wires to closely-spaced connector terminals that, if overheated, will melt the connector header or lift traces. But it's not nearly as critical as many component installations in other locations. Two more leads are connected to BNC connector terminals that require significant heat in any case. The RXA board comes with the leads pre-attached, so there's no soldering to do to the RXA board itself. It's a judgment call. Elecraft wants you to be successful and your chance of having trouble is greatly reduced by using the right tools, and a good soldering station is a tool you'll use again and again if you do any work on your rigs. You can get away with less. I've repaired a lot of SMD circuit boards sitting cross-legged on the deck in the navigating bridge of a ship using a portable butane-powered soldering iron while holding a flashlight in my teeth. I've also had lots and lots of practice over decades of soldering that lets me judge the temperature of the tip by the smell and, by being very, very careful, I've yet to destroy a board or parts. I did have the advantage of growing up with the pc board industry, first working on boards back in the 1960s that had large push-in pins to which leads were soldered, then boards with big thick, wide traces that have slowly evolved into the tissue-thin, tiny traces we find on many boards today. Even so, whenever possible I'll use a temperature-controlled soldering station in a comfortable, well-lit shop. Over time, I've found that a good soldering station costs me pennies a month to own and use. I don't consider that too much to spend to protect circuit boards, almost any one of which is worth more than the iron. I currently have a Hakko 936 that cost me less than $100 several years ago from www.tequipment.net. Bottom line, it's a matter of how skilled you are at soldering and how much risk you are comfortable taking with the pc board and components. Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: SSB - WPX - Filters - Controls
FWIW, I run two SSB filters - 2.7 and 1.8 KHz. I find the 2.7 is fine for ragchewing and light (no crowds) DXing and contesting. I can also vouch for the 1.8 KHz roofing filter. It *kills* sidesplatter, esp. when used judiciously with the DSP to clean up the passband edges. I plan to substitute the 2.8 8-pole for the 2.7 one of these days, but it's not a priority. Eventually, you get used to pulling down the Hi Cut to rub out high freq chatter. The 1.8 and DSP together are a very powerful combination. Also, FWIW - the human brain is The Ultimate Filter. NR can only help compensate for its front-end input. That being said, the K3's NR is the best I've heard in my limited 37-year ham experience. 73, matt, W6NIA K3 # 24 Lee, snip After the WPX experience I am now willing to try a sharper SSB filer, I think it is needed. I also tried noise reduction as higher bands sometimes where very noisy and signals weak. For me, DSP NR never really worked well. The NR in the K3 seems to do a pretty nice job, but still my brain is far better. snip - back to Lee's original post Do I need to go to a 1.8 Khz filter to give the DSP a break? Do I need to understand and play with the RX more to make sure I am doing it right. I would like to some feedback and comments on how other people set up their K3s for SSB contesting. I want to learn more about this radio. Lee - K0WA ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 - How to do Crossband?
This involves using the A/B and FREQ ENT switches. You'll figure it out. 73 es GL, matt, W6NIA On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:40:28 -0500, you wrote: How does one do crossband on the K3? For example, transmit on 6m and receive on 10m. Thanks, Dave Quick, KØEKL Minneapolis, MN ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] FM Filter
You can also find the details on the Inrad website. matt On Fri, 23 May 2008 16:36:09 -0700, you wrote: Has anyone installed the FM Filter in their K3? If you did, how did you configure the Band Width? There was nothing in my box indicating Band Width. It is 13.0 kHz and must in position FL1. 73, Lyle KK7P ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Noise Reduction (NR) in FM Mode
At least with the Motorola Syntor X, they used a separate and very simple receiver to pick out impulse noise and used this secondary RX detector output to poke holes in the main RX audio. They called it an Extender and I believe it was only included with the low-band Syntor X. It is described as a Noise Blanker. I have one of these LB Syntor X's in mobile use, but have never found a situation where the Extender was needed (or a way to real-world test it!). Turning the Extender on or off has no apparent effect on receive sensitivity however. I've watched the blanking pulse train from the Extender outpt to the blanking circuit on the main RX - the pulses are present, but can't really be heard in the main. Shamless Plug: my little company makes agile controllers for the Moto Syntor and Syntor X radios. This is the only reason I know this fairly useless bit of trivia. 73, matt, W6NIA On Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:44:27 -0700, you wrote: Aaargh! I meant to say we used high level I.F. limiters so no AM would get to the detector. That included noise. So blankers were never needed. Maybe Motorola didn't use good limiters. Now to see if I can pry my foot out of my mouth... Ron AC7AC -Original Message- ??? I worked on FM gear in the land mobile business as a service rep and salesman and we *never* used a noise blanker. A limiting I.F. amplifier was a basic part of the receiver design since the detector does not respond to amplitude modulation at all, including noise. Noise does not modulate the frequency. Maybe Motorola didn't use good FM detectors. Some simple types of FM detectors respond to both AM and FM. Come to think of it maybe that's why I outsold Motorola in our market area with E.F. Johnson land mobile FM gear G. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Hi John When I worked for Motorola, both their and GE's top of the line two-way FM mobile radios did include noise blankers for the mobile environment. They worked quite well for their intended use. 73, Bob N6WG _ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT: WWV SFI applet for browser window
http://www.n0hr.com/Ham_Radio_Toolbar.htm 73, matt, W6NIA K2 #2810, K3 #24 On Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:52:13 -0400, you wrote: Hi all: My HD died this past Thursday and I'm just about done getting my stuff installed on the new HD. One of the neat little things I had picked up somewhere was a little applet that gave you the current SFI, A, K index display on a vacant portion of the browser. If you double clicked it, you got more info. Anyone know the URL for this? de Doug KR2Q ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Solar Power
Hi William, K3 #24 has been running on solar power since I bought it. Our house electrical is set up a bit like yours, though we have a 48V system and FLA storage that covers the house if grid power disappears. The grid tied inverter is an older Xantrex SW4048. I added 2x 50W Siemens SR50 panels to the roof a little while after the main PV system was grid-tied back in 2002. That's a 12V system, nameplate-rated at 100W. The PV feed comes off the two panels to the radio room here on the second floor and is fused at 10A where is enters the radio room. That feed goes into a Micro M+ charge controller set to 13.56V to charge the SLA (lead-acid, sealed) battery. The battery is nameplate-rated at 110AH. All radio equipment runs off the SLA battery (K3, K2, scanner, even an inverter for 400W @ 120VAC). I'd say you can get away with 50W of PV, and use the Micro M+ or eqiuvalent. The M+ is good for about 8 Amps if you upgrade the output FET. A 50 - 80AH AGM type battery will probably just about cut it if you're operating 20W. Most of my ops are in that range, and I've found the 110AH battery is a wee bit of overkill most of the time (but very good for cloudy weather). You may also use the charge controller off a regular AC to DC power supply to charge the battery when solar isn't available or if needed for high duty cycle ops like contesting. I do this sometimes for those reasons. The Micro M+ charge controller is good for less than +14.5V out of the power supply because it behaves like an LDO regulator. Low voltage drops don't bother it. Good Luck and 73, matt zilmer W6NIA K3 #24 On Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:01:47 -0400, you wrote: Guys and Gals of the K3 ilk, I am interested in setting up my K3 to run off of solar power but know very little about what it will take. I assume a battery and a controller/charger but what size battery would work best for operation up to 10 watts, and what would work best up to 100 watts (occasionally!) (and I do not need 120 pound flooded lead acid batteries -- lighter weight, gelled cells in the 60 pound range are preferable -- my back is not what it used to be!) Charging off the grid is acceptable at first, but the idea is to switch over to the solar panel (what size, capacity?) as soon as I can. I am familiar with solar power as I have had, in the past, solar panels charging batteries for some of the house current (running through inverters), although presently I only send the power back into the grid without battery backup. Who out there is doing this for emergency or regular use with the K3 and can offer some assistance? Bill, W4ISH __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Remote control command - GET pitch freq?
Ted, The sequence to read sidetone pitch into a PC: Send the SWH42; command, Read back the contents of VFO A's display using the DS; command, Convert the string to an integer. The frequency shows as three digits starting at the seventh character of the string. This code fragment demonstrates: WriteComPortString(CSpec[SWH42].Cmd); sleep(20); WriteComPortString(CSpec[DS].Cmd); sleep(20); ReadComPortString(cString, CSpec[DS].RspZ); rc = atoi(cString[7]); // sidetone freq. 73, matt zilmer W6NIA K3 #24 On Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:32:33 -0400, you wrote: I looked through the K3 Programmer's Reference manual but I can't find a command to retrieve the sidetone pitch frequency. Does anyone know of a way to do that either directly or indirectly? Thanks, Ted, W2ZK __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 firmware 2 years on and still much to do
No one needs to defend Elecraft or its reputation. And on the other hand Elecraft has very thick skin, and take all complaints and suggestions seriously but not personally. That's part of what makes them a great company. I don't want anyone to think that I drank the Kool Aid, but I'm certain most everyone believes they get great support via the direct link (list, etc.) with the principals. No other ham radio equipment company offers anything like this, at leasts that I know of. Any company of any size has finite resources. Running a business largely has to do with prioritzing and balancing (multiple dimensions, same problem). Folks might do well to remember that, considering that owners already get an unbelievable level and quality of support from Elecraft, compared to the big guys. Despite the rhetoric above, no support system or model or capability is perfect. We know Elecraft's isn't. THEY know it isn't. It's just the best around. You do what you can, not what you can't. If some feature you need or want is deferred in priority or in implementation, it's not an oversight, or forgetfullness. It's about running a business and making choices about that business. That's just the way I see it. Opinions vary. soapbox mode OFF 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 K2 #2810 On Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:47:01 -0700 (PDT), you wrote: Grant Youngman wrote: Why would I have any reason to think that it wouldn't? Other radios in existence at the time of the K3's announcement already did that. So what? That's an absurd assumption. Read the specs, read the manual. Don't like what you see? Move on to something else. But don't spend hours berating the fact that your assumptions were bad. Clearly you don't use digimodes, otherwise you would not consider it absurd to assume that the K3 would have the same functionality in its data mode as other radios have. And it is not correct to use EQ when operating sound card digimodes, as anyone who uses those modes will tell you. I do find absurd your implication that it is acceptable for the K3 to be dysfuntional in this respect and that instead of bemoaning this fact I should just buy something else. I'm not sure Elecraft would agree either. I want the K3 to be the best performing radio just as much as they do, and the attitude of members of this list who attack anyone who dares to suggest that certain things could use some improvement is not constructive at all. I don't think anyone at Elecraft has ever been offended by criticism anyone has made on this reflector, so I don't understand why some people feel the need to leap to their defence at the slightest unfavourable comment. If we can't have free and frank discussion about the merits or otherwise of Elecraft products here on this reflector then how are Wayne, Eric and Lyle supposed to find out what their customers think? - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. * G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com * KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html * KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html __ 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
[Elecraft] K3: DVR open ground problem
K3 #24 was upgraded to include the DVR earlier this year. It worked fine while testing just after installation and configuring. I used the DVR a few times for contesting, but not much recently. I noticed recently that any recording I make has the hum of an open mic (ground or shield?) superimposed on the voice signal. Seems like there might be a bad connection, but looking at the schematic this makes no sense - to have this problem with the DVR only. The audio straight from the mic should have this problem as well. The mic audio is fine though. Anyone have experience with a problem like this? I will do the usual - uninstalling, re-installing (reseating the connector), but since the mic signal at the connector is digital I don't think this will help. All ideas appreciated. 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 K2 #2810 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] 144 MHz Module
See the Elecraft Shipping Status page. Sometime after 10/15 is what I remember... 73, matt On Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:37:24 -0400, you wrote: Is there a firm release date yet? Phil Philip LaMarche LaMarche Enterprises, Inc. http://www.instantgourmetspices.com/ www.instantgourmetspices.com www.w9dvm.com http://www.w9dvm.com/ 800-395-7795 pin 02 727-944-3226 FAX 727-937-8834 NASFT 30210 K3 #1605 CCA 98 00827 CRA 1701 W9DVM __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Serial port RTS problem [was: Different mode]
Bill, even if you make BIOS changes to a port it won't affect the port's operation under Windoze, since it's all controlled by a kernel mode driver. matt W6NIA On Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:18:17 -0600, you wrote: Julian, G4ILO wrote: Have you tried looking in Device Manager at the properties for the serial port? On mine, on the tab where you can set the baud rate etc. there is a button marked Advanced Settings... Yes. The advanced settings have nothing to do with the RS-232 control signals, unfortunately. And there is no replacement serial driver. Googling various combinations of key words turns up nothing related to this bug. Apparently this Dell RS-232 design error is so arcane relative to what virtually all laptop users use their computers for, that nobody has ever complained about it. :-) My last step is to go into the BIOS and see if there are any controls in there that live below the level of the OS. Oh well. Bill W5WVO __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 command mode default k30 k31
Humble opinion time... Having K31 persist across reboots might be a Bad Idea too. It's a mode dependency, meaning more than one state might be possible at start-up time. This may cause some PC programs to go into brainlock if K31 responses are not what's expected. Plain K3; is what most of them expect (I think...). Imho, Wayne has this right. There should only be a single start-up state. 73, matt zilmer K3 #24 On Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:19:15 -0400, you wrote: Don, I thought we were talking about a Microham Router command that does not work at times until the user issues a terminal K31 command manually. No, we are not talking about ANY Router command. microHAM interfaces (DigiKeyer, microKEYER, microKEYER II and MK2R/MK2R+) can generate FSK from a PS/2 keyboard attached to the interface IF the transceiver is in RTTY (FSK) mode. Unfortunately, the K3 reports its Digital mode as DATA A (AFSK) unless the K3 response set is used. As I've stated several times, Router does not change the CAT mode (form of the IF response) because it might break any software that requires specific responses to the DS and FW command. This is not a matter of Router's programming ... it is a case where 1) the K3 does not report the information needed and 2) once the user has changed the mode of the K3, that change does not survive a reboot. The most logical solution would be to make K31 persist across reboots and/or make the d byte active in the auto- information (IF) reports. 73, ... Joe, W4TV -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Friday, October 02, 2009 7:56 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 command mode default k30 k31 Joe, I thought we were talking about a Microham Router command that does not work at times until the user issues a terminal K31 command manually. Yes, the user power cycled the K3, but I believe proper software should recover from that event with no input from the user - that usually comes under the category of 'error recovery'. For commands that require K31 mode to work as expected, the software *must* change the state (mode) of the radio or assure that the K3 is already in that state. I believe it is the responsibility of the software to assure that the K31 mode is set on rather than depending on (assuming) any state of the radio. That can easily be circumvented by using a bracketed command string. See the excerpt from the K3 Programmer's Reference below. Meta commands can be sent as often as you wish. You can even use them to bracket one or more selected commands if you don't want to permanently change the mode. For example: K31; FW; K30; selects command mode K31 just for the benefit of the FW command, then returns to mode K30. (This allows the FW command to set/read the bandwidth in 10-Hz units.) If the K3 does not behave as indicated in the Programmer's Reference, that is the fault of the K3, but if software is failing to work as expected because of a particular state of the radio, then I think that fault lies with the software. This case may be a moot point in the future, because I see Wayne has just stated that he will make changes to not require these modal commands. I trust that can be accomplished without creating problems for the many bits of software already out there, but that remains to be seen. This is my last post on this subject. It is obvious to me that my view of what constitutes proper software is different than that of at least one programmer. 73, Don W3FPR Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: I beg to differ. The K3 does provide the information on the command state via the 'K2n;' command and the 'K3n;' command. Bull. The K3 does not provide the information in response to the K3n; command. The K3 changes its CAT response - specifically changes the information reported in the IF (auto information) data and its response to several other commands based on the status of K3n; __ 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 __ 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 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http
Re: [Elecraft] Shorthand
snip CW ops use this long inter-element delay between E and N (to make R) as a point of emphasis. I guess this means Very Good R. This has been true at least at least since I was first licensed (1972). At that time, electronic keyers were fairly new (and/or expensive,) and bugs were often used. That delay is very common for a bug user. Many elements of style are incorporated into one's fist, according to experience and exposure. And some styles (swing, or whatever it's called) persist culturally even if the technology changes. You probably won't hear the long delay in contesting though, since every unnecessary delay counts towards missed contacts. 73, matt zilmer, W6NIA K3 #24, K2 #2810 In the last year or so I've begun to hear a lot of CW op's sending EN to the other station when it is turned back to them. Is this something new or just a cool LID's way to send R for Roger? Tom, N5GE n...@n5ge.com K3 #806, K3 #1055, PR6, XV144, XV432, KRC2, W1 and other small kits. 2 W2's on order 1 K144XV on order http://www.n5ge.com http://www.swotrc.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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 -S
For the -S, read up on it on p32 (lower right) of the Owner's Manual, D4 Rev. Looks like you have SYNC DATA mode enabled. The -S is also cited in the top entry of the table on p60. There, it indicates you should not normally use SYNC DT for normal data or SSB communications. There is a reference there and on p32 for how to disable/enable. 73, matt W6NIA On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:00:29 -0400, you wrote: I am invoking the wisdom of all great Elecraft gurus for a quandary I have: On the right front display of the K3, there is a small symbol (-S) which is there to designate when the rig is in synchronous AM. I know that we do not yet have that mode available, and thus, when I am in AM mode and press ALT, nothing happens. But when I go to SSB (either LSB or USB), the -S is lighted (or is that darkened?). It only shows up in sideband mode and I do not know what it means. Do I have some obscure configuration engaged? I have re-installed the firmware (3.44) but the symbol persist. I can not find anything about it in the users manual. Can any of you, of great Elecraft wisdom, provide me with an answer? Also, I can no longer press and hold the shift button to return to NOR when in SSB mode. It works in data, CW and AM modes, but in SSB I receive N/A instead. Is this a change with some of the recent software? Or is there a new configuration which I have overlooked? Bill W4ISH #1171 uC: 03.44 d1: 2.38 d2: 2.38 FL: 1.04 Dr: 1/03 __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Menu Stuck
Hi Jim, What firmware rev(s) are you using? This doesn't happen with a recent field test firmware on the K3 here. No one can confirm your result without a rev # for the firmware. It may be revision-dependent and probably was eliminated some time ago. 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:38:55 +, you wrote: Hi, Just discovered something that doesn't seem right. When I hit MENU and turn VFO B to RPT OFS the display stays on that regardless whether turning VFO B forward or backwards. It only sticks on that entry. It sticks regardless of which way (CW or CCW) I approach the entry. The only way to get out of it is to turn the radio off and back on. Anyone have any ideas on what is happening and how to correct it. Have a good day and 73. Jim, W0EM __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 MTBF
Please also note that SW is a component in MTBF, for embedded systems (SDRs) like the K3. This is also true in consumer electronics (where I'm stuck for the moment). We figure in SW failures as a statistical value, but don't really count them as a full failure unless a unit is bricked and becomes unusable. When you make millions of anything, this does happen and needs to be counted. The case is quite different for a unique and lower-volume product like the K3. For consumer products that need an unanticipated power cycle or reset to start working again, we assign a fractional failure. Usually 0.2 or 0.3 depending on the Annoyance Quotient to the end-user. Many consumer products have SW MTBF in the hundreds of hours because release intervals prevent thorough debugging and bug fixing. That's one factor, but so is software complexity. From anecdotal evidence (I'm not an Elecraft insider, so it's mostly from this list), it looks like the collective MTBF of the K3 due only to software has a much better record than any consumer appliance has. At least that I've heard about. It goes without saying that the hardware platform is bulletproof. But when something fails, it would probably occur first in switches and controls, followed by connectors, and last place would likely be the electronics itself. Be glad Wayne, Lyle, Eric, the Aptos crew, and a large assemblage of Field Testers all try to break the K3 firmware in advance of most releases. Now - I wonder if Wayne or Eric have any data collected on MTBF I bet that's one of those trade secret thingies :) 73, matt W6NIA On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:47:44 +, you wrote: Matt Palmer wrote: Such a number is really meaningless to an amateur and without information on the method in which it was computed. I suspect the sort of things being referencedplgu here are: - many pieces of modern electronics fail through old age in less hours than their MTBF (e.g. computer disk drives), which means they are only useful if you have many instances of the product and replace them before they reach old age; - MTBF doesn't account for things like lightning strikes and shorted antenna cables; - for a semi-kit, many failure modes will depend on the quality of the assembly process and anti-static measures; - failure rates are very temperature dependent and somewhat dependent on other environmental factors, like humidity. - __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 CW Reception
The on-frequency energy is the transmitter. Might be key clicks, waveform shape, etc. Note that K3's don't cause this type of problem on TX. Transmitters that are improperly aligned or operated are much more noticeable on the K3 than any other rig I've owned. This is due to the sensitivity, maybe, but there is always an expectation factor. Your use of the ATT is good, but the radio can hear (major deity of your choice) thinking anyway. I recommend frequent experiments with RF GAIN. This really can get results. You need surprisingly little RF gain to copy most anything on the K3. A lot of ops run it wide open, but it is the main gain control at this station on RX. You may know all this already I have a neighbord (1/4 mile away) that has the clockwise syndrome handicap. Puts out wide band SSB crud. K3 #24 hears this splatter better than any receiver I've owned (same neighbor for 20 years, same problem, but with better ears). No receiver can make up for crappy TX output. If the energy is on frequency, the K3 will probably hear it whether you want it or not. Chirps, clicks, splatter, anything. The positive side is that this is also true for what you want to hear. 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 K3 #2810 On Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:58:56 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Now that I have my first receiver that actually hears whats on the band (K3 of course) I am in need of some education on cw reception. I have K3 #3397 with 2.7, 1.8 and 400 hz filters. Latest beta. When tuning away from a cw signal and the tone disappears I continue to hear clicking (not quite clicking but more like cw with no tone) for up to another 500 hz. Usually more like 250-300 hz. I normally use the 400 hz filter. Reducing rx bandwidth begins to help around 100 hz but its still noticeable. I believe this is caused by the transmitted cw waveform and the rise and fall times. My understanding is that this is also what causes key clicks but I'm not sure if thats what I'm hearing. To me, key clicks would extend further from the center than what I'm hearing. Is this what also causes faster cw to use more bandwidth? It is on all cw signals and not related to strength (although its usually wider with a stronger signal) or AGC settings (including off). Of course, on steady carriers I dont hear anything once the tone is gone. When listening to a TS570 its not nearly as noticeable BUT there are alot of other things going on like AGC pumping and images and just mushy audio in general. Its amazing to me how bad the 570 sounds after using the K3. Another part to this question: What does transmitted phase noise sound like on reception? I have read a lot of posts on phase noise but I have no idea what people are hearing. And maybe on a related topic I have also noticed SSB splatter much more with the K3. Is this also related to the K3 just being a cleaner receiver? None of these issues seem to be rx overload. I dont use NB, NR and always use the ATT on the lower bands. As I said before I have tried various AGC settings including agc off and backing off the rf gain with no real difference. Maybe I'm just now realizing what alot of you have been talking about... Poorly designed and/or improperly operated transmitters/amplifiers. If thats the case its an eye(ear)-opener for me! 73, Steve WA3A __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] To those about to rock, we salute you (K3 v. K2)
Everyone that homebrews has these stories. Each one is a heart-breaker. Mine was a Heathkit DX-20 with my own custom screen modulator for AM, built in 1971 and mod'ed in 1973. I reused the tubes in another TX and tossed everything else. Argh. Ah... history. Still have the DX-60 that came after though. It still works too. But all in all, I'm very pleased that we have the K3 now, and we're in an age where magic is stil possible. Seems like at least 3000+ others agree... 73, matt W6NIA On Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:33:16 -0800, you wrote: On Wed, 2009-11-04 at 16:56 -0800, eric norris wrote: My biggest regret as a ham is selling the Heathkit HW-16 and HW-101 I built in my youth--to buy a used TS-520. It makes me sick thinking about it. My biggest regret is that I no longer have my first homebrew project, a one-tube (6U8A) regenerative short wave receiver built from an article in Popular Electronics magazine back when I was in high school in 1967. It worked great until I cannibalized it for parts. :=( Al 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] My mic!
Heil Goldline with HC-4 and -5 elements. matt W6NIA K3 #24 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] JT65A output power variations.
Since you're using USB, you might want to be sure you have the TX EQ flat. Or use DATA A, where the EQ doesn't apply. 73, matt W6NIA On Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:28:36 +0100, you wrote: Hi Julian, Thank you for your fast answer! A 1st point, as with the FT857, i'm using USB mode for JT65A. For the filter used, i ordered a 8 poles 2.8k with my K3, but i'm not sure if the 5 poles 2.7k original and always installed as FIL2 is not selected during TX???; next week-end, when active at my external shack, i will look how to remove the 2.7k filter, as i've also problem with center filter when i adjust the HI LO filter controls; when the 2.7k filter is (automatically) selected, i've a big discontinuity with filter setting. As you say, i will look if the 2.7k is not selected during TX. I read also the problems when in DATA A mode, but as said, i'm working in USB (as recommended for JT65A for all RF bands) and VOX work at perfection too. My best 73, Rudolf HB9ARI PS As i expect to get 50W output when i set the control to 50W, i've adjusted the audio input level for max bars on ALC. For PSK31, i work with ~ 10 to15W max for 100W selectes with the control and local receiving give me an acceptable -24 to -28dB IMD. Julian, G4ILO wrote: hb9ari wrote: Hello, As i use principally JT65A (snice ~ 2years), i've remarked transmit output power variations depending where the audio is located in the waterfall, as i'm not speaking English, it's difficult to explain correctly; if i'm ~ in the middle of the waterfall (~ 1200Hz) i get over 3dB in output power variations; for an expected 50W output power, between some tones of the JT65A modulation, the output level can vary from 20W to 60W; if i'm working away from the middle, variations are lower and acceptable but most of time, central frequencies are used... I've always worked with this problem as i expect some AGC effect by the receiving side... I would appreciate to have an explanation of this effect. This topic has been brought up before in the context of RTTY. The reason is that there is no automatic level control in DATA A mode (or rather, there is, but it is very slow acting to avoid causing IMD on PSK31 signals) so there is no compensation for ripples in the roofing filter passband. It has been suggested that the problem is less when using the 8-pole SSB roofing filter as it has less ripple than the standard 5-pole filter. The output should not vary as much as you suggest while working within the normal passband for JT65A operation so I'm wondering if you have correctly adjusted the audio input level in DATA A to get 5 bars on the ALC scale. This will not prevent the power varying for different tones during a transmission but it should help maintain a constant average level when working at different places within the passband. - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. * G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com * KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html * KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] JT65A output power variations
You could also use LP Bridge to share the serial port at the K3 among several programs running on your PC. This works quite well. 73, matt W6NIA On Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:34:04 +0100, you wrote: Julian, I will look if this connection don't interfere with other programs and if ok, i will use it! Thanks for info! 73, Rudolf Julian, G4ILO wrote: hb9ari wrote: DATA A is perfectly usable with VOX: i will migrate to this mode But there is no reason to use VOX for any digimode. WSJT supports PTT control. You have a fully wired serial cable connecting the PC and K3 which allows you to use it. The K3 is not like other radios that requires a transistor switch driven by the com port to do PTT. Just select the com port for PTT control in WSJT and select RTS in the K3 PTT menu. - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. * G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com * KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html * KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Newbie Questions for K3...
Ditto - get the ATU. Very useful for non-resonant (er, non-50 ohm feedpoint) antennas. I run the ATU on a 160m dipole used on all bands 160m - 10m. No worries. Just make sure the feedline is 1/8-wave on the lowest band and the ATU will bring your K3 50 + j0 ohms. I also use the ATU on a homebrew vertical for 40-30-20-17m. It helps touch up the SWR just a little at the band ends. Early on, I found that running the ATU in the presence of RF feedback generally doesn't work so well. Just what I was taught (the K3 was unhappy too). But the right choice of long wire length will let it do its thing comfortably. Just make sure the feedpoint is reasonably distant from the shack. 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:59:31 +0100, you wrote: Phil Hystad wrote: I am not a K3 owner but I plan to be sometime soon. I am still in my research stage where I want to learn as much as I can about the K3 before I buy. I do have a couple of questions... 1. Are there options that I would be foolish not to get right up front? My plan is to at least get the 100 watt option and I am seriously considering the ATU. Get the ATU. For me, it's tuned everything my manual MFJ tuner would tune. If you're interested in digital or CW, get a narrow filter - I'd say 400 or 500 Hz. 73 Jon LA4RT __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] USB noise
Some of the down-market adapters have poor shield attachments. Could it be that in handling your adapter, you caused the shield to loosen up or detach at one end or the other (of the cable)? The KUSB doesn't have this problem, btw. matt W6NIA On Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:38:19 -0800, you wrote: Hi All, I have a problem with my Brand X USB to serial converter or cable that I have not seen addressed here. It works fine except when I access it, it introduces noise to my K3. This noise sounds like QRN and it happens only if I open the K3 utility or HRD. It does not seem to affect the S meter. I have snap-on chokes at both ends of the USB cable. The strange thing is I just started noticing this a few months ago, before that it worked without adding noise (I think). It functions OK and does what it is supposed to, except for the noise. It is connected to a Dell 5100 PC running Windows XP SP3 fully updated. Any ideas??? Clint KI6SSN __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4625 (20091120) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.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 __ 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
[Elecraft] KUSB Adapter Alternative
I've been experimenting with a serial server that resides on the LAN here: http://www.serialgear.com/Ethernet-Serial-Servers-NETCOM-411.html. It's a 4-port and can handle any baud rate needed. I've had no problems with the server, but it's not as fast as the KUSB even with the cascaded hubs here. A full (all boxes checked) upload takes about 20% more time on the serial server over the KUSB's load time. There is also the ES1A from BB Electronics. This single port Ethernet to serial adapter is very slow on program loads, but works fine for other tasks (HRD, Digipan, WSJT, etc). Note: Using shielded Ethernet CAT6 cabling here. Recommended around the K3 sensitive ears. 2nd Note: If you poke a hole in the blocked incoming ports on your router and alias the hole to the LAN IP address associated with the K3's port, you can operate the K3 remotely. More audio equipment and finagling is required, and I haven't tackled this yet - but I've talked to a few guys that have and they love it. 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Macros
Try the programmer's reference manual. Latest rev is C8. I think you'll find a sample set of macros on page 4 or 5. matt W6NIA On Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:28:06 -0500, you wrote: It would be nice if Elecraft posted a list of all known macros and tell what each does. If this list exists now, please tell me where to find it. Thanks. Roy Morris W4WFB __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the CQWW contest
I see a little odd symmetry here, between a local interference case (my QTH) and contesting with the K3. Incidentally, I get same complaints on CW and SSB. Can't hear them, but their radios have such poor filtering or selectivity that my TX is wrecking what they receive, when close to their freq. And that's without the crowded contest environment, a majority of the time. There's also a local ham with clockwise syndrome, who runs way too much power to make sure he amplifies the splatter. He has off-frequency energy and gets into the K3 from many KHz away. I've complained to him numerous times about wasting energy by blasting it all over the spectrum, etc. No argument works with this guy. Showing him a spectrum plot of his signal from an 8656B didn't help - he said my spectrum analyzer was defective, despite same-band same strength signals looking different and narrower than his. Maybe he'd believe a P3 plot? So we can have the problem both ways. The K3 can hear gudge thrown off by improperly set up TX, and it can't hear nearby signals with TX run correctly, because it's designed for this. This sort of thing happens when a revolutionary breakthrough happens in most infrastructure. The yesteryear equipment and today's SOTA eqmt aren't compatible any more. That's an extreme statement, because we should consider our neighbors (we K3'ers). Just the same the neighbors probably won't consider anyone but themselves. This is how it has always been, imho, for some special privileged class of ham. SIC. And we don't have to act like that, because most ops want to be the best - and that isn't just a technical factor. Now, if everyone just threw in the towel on the old equipment and bought K3's we would all be compatible again. I neglected to ask Wayne or Eric when their sales forecasts projected this to happen, but it might be a few more years. This same topic has come up on the list many times, so that means the problem cited has occurred many times more than that. If we just think of others using inferior equipment on HF for RX, we might operate a little differently. Think of someone using a Hammarlund receiver ca. 1945 with no crystal filtering at all, and just a BFO to make sideband usable. Maybe there should be separate band segments for K3-only operation? :) 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 K2 #2810 On Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:02:43 -0800 (PST), you wrote: That is exactly what's happening to me daily but on SSB,guys with poor selectivity radios about 3Khz from me come to my freq to complain I am bothering them and honestly I don't hear a thing even at 3Khz and with 30db over 9 signal,when I go to CW I can be at just 300Hz away from a 599 signal and still be able to pull a 559 signal with the 500Hz roofer and the DSP dialed to 200Hz,this radio has an amazing selectivity no doubt about it. AD4C For a refined ham it is compulsory to own a k3 --- On Tue, 12/1/09, Dyarnes w7...@cox.net wrote: From: Dyarnes w7...@cox.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the CQWW contest To: Jim Brown j...@audiosystemsgroup.com, Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 4:09 AM That's an excellent point Jim! I don't think most folks realize how close you can get to another station with a K3 and not even know they are there! I used to have big problems with a fellow who lives about a quarter of a mile from me--not his fault, but he was just LOUD! Now, I don't even know he is on the band unless I stumble right on top of him! Let me just say that narrow roofing filters in the K3 are for real! It's a whole different world than with previous transceivers--even the Orion! Dave W7AQK - Original Message - From: Jim Brown j...@audiosystemsgroup.com To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 2:49 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the CQWW contest On Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:37:46 -0500, DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote: What a great radio Yes. Several times I got complaints from guys who came on my new run frequency to complain when I landed too close to theirfrequency on 40M. Thanks to my K3, I didn't even know they were there, and couldn't hear them with my IF opened up to 400 Hz. Can't blame it on my TX -- on CW, I can run 500 Hz away from my close-in neighbors who also use K3s. 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Broken AF knob and bad service to geta replacement.
People will change the ID any way they want. If that includes changing knobs to something that wasn't custom designed, seems like there's nothing to be done. There was someone who put on a bluish sidelight some time ago, and another that modified control labels. Even one that stenciled something on the LCD panel lens... Personally I like the knob set on the K3 as-is. Reasons: - Aesthetics. Surface and groove radius are similar to the K3 enclosure. - Just the right size. YMMV here. - Proper weighting, meaning torque to turn, and initial stiction. - Deep enough to operate using finger tips or pads, but no so deep that they change the unit's depth dimension by too much. - Frobbing of the VFO knobs (both, imho) allows enough play to spin them. So the flywheel effect is about right. You can adjust flywheel-ability to suit yourself. - Fine control just takes getting used to. Same on any rig. All in all, a good compromise between cost, look feel, size, and human engineering. Just my $0.02. Don't start a flame war over this. It's not worth it. 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24, K2 #2810 On Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:36:04 -0800, you wrote: I may be biased (I designed the K3's knobs, switches, LCD, and packaging with intent to have everything match, aesthetically), but I strongly recommend *not* changing the knobs to anything else. If you're only doing it because you have one that's defective, please request a replacement from Elecraft. We had a batch manufactured with the wrong material, and I thought we had sent replacements to all affected K3 owners, but perhaps not. If you're doing it because you'd like machined aluminum knobs rather than plastic, send me a private email telling me how much you'd be willing to pay for a complete set of them :) It is certainly possible to have them made from aluminum, but the cost would be dramatically higher. Off the top of my head I'm guessing it would have added $150-200 to the cost of the radio. Mouser aluminum knobs (or any other off-the-shelf knobs) will not match the K3. I'd rather design new ones from scratch. But I personally like the molded plastic knobs, which are easy on the fingers. 73, Wayne N6KR p...@n4lcd.com wrote: To be honest I don't think they suit the look of the K3. They don't even match the other knobs. It might be a solution in ten years time when a knob breaks and Elecraft doesn't make them any more, but that's the situation I'd really like to avoid. __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Distorted Sound while using AM
If you're using the 2.8 or 2.1 filters for AM mode reception, it would probably sound distorted. The 2.8 works fine for listening to AM in SSB mode though. matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:50:28 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Hey Joe, Thanks for the fast reply! No, I do not have the AGC Off, nor have I changed any of the settings within the AGC (Menus). I should have stated that in my original post. Anyway, I am really stumped as what the problem is. If you happen to have a K3 equipped as mine, could try to listen to an AM station with the Volume turned up, to see if you are receiving the distortion? I should have been more specific, the radio is totally loaded. It does have the 8 Pole filters in both receivers. From my recollection I have the following filters: 250 Data CW, 2.1 for SSB, 2.8 for SSB, and 6 for AM, and 13 for FM. I hope this makes it a litter clearer and not more confusing. Thanks Joe, Rick Thanks, Rick Joe Planisky wrote: Hi Rick, Do you perhaps have AGC turned off and the AF LIM set to a value of less than 30? The distortion and eventual cutting out of audio at high levels you are describing sounds a lot like the intended AF limiter action. If so, the solution is to either turn on AGC, or increase the AF LIM setting closer to 30. I find an AF LIM setting of 28 allows as much dynamic range as I want while still protecting my tender ears from various pops and static crashes. The AF limiter is intended to protect your ears and speakers from unexpectedly loud signals when AGC is turned off. It will prevent the output from exceeding the preset value at the expense of distortion. 73 -- Joe KB8AP On Dec 5, 2009, at 8:50 PM, Richard Jones - KJ5QY wrote: Hello, I am having a problem when I go into AM, or AM sync. Example: I go to an AM Shortwave station. If I turn the AF gain past approximately 3/4 or farther the radio starts to Stutter, Distort, and finally the audio disappears. I cannot make out what is coming out from my speaker. The audio is completely distorted or gone. I noticed I could rotate the Af gain (Counter Clockwise) and it would go back to less distortion. I did check the external speaker jack and also unplugged it only to find the same problem. __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 with Heil PR781 Speech Processor or Pre-Amp?
Hi Jim, I don't want to ask you to repeat yourself, but do you have a short list of recommended mics for the K3 (or in general)? Using the Goldline HC-4 and -5 on #24, I've always like the audio and got good reports. Just the same, I think we're all in line to put out better audio if possible. Thanks 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:12:21 -0800, you wrote: On Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:25:14 -0500, Don Wilhelm wrote: I don't have any first hand experience with external speech processors and the K3, but with the controls available in the K3 itself - TXEQ, mic level, and compression, I wonder why anyone would want to use additional processing. I strongly agree, Don. The K3 has everything built in to transmit very high quality and very aggressive communications audio. There is NO need to add ANYTHING external to a K3 other than a good mic, and the Heils would be at the bottom of my list of recommended products. 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Ethernet to Serial Converter
I'm using one of these http://search.bb-elec.com/?s=q=ES1A with no problem. Enet / Serial is not as fast as USB / Serial however. Good Luck and 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:41:20 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Has anyone played around with an Ethernet to Serial Converter and the K3? I am not sure how it would interface, but there are such devices. Programming might be a challenge, but you could give your K3 and IP address Lee K0WA In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine? Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing revealed truth in my mind. - J. Wolf __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 owners that have built a K2
I built K2 #2810 as a K2/10 in August 2002, and populated it over time. It is the most fun I've *ever* had building any kit, and I've built quite a few... before that, Heathkits mainly. The K2 traveled with me for quite a few years as a hotel radio and kept me off the streets when on business travel. Good times. I'm still using that K2, but it's time to go back and clean it up a bit, and bring firmware and other things up to date. K3 #24 is nearly full-up now, and about to be topped off with the K144XV. The K3 is fun from a somewhat different perspective: It performs better than any kit that could be built by hand from components. SMT counts for a lot of the quality and repeatability here. Good design and DFM/DFT practices contribute as well. I have a great time with the K3 on digital modes and CW. PSK31, JT65, WSPR - all work very well with non-big-gun antennas and low power. I've even played in some of the CW and RTTY contests a fair amount. Maybe there should be a pin or medal with Built All Elecraft on it? :) Jeez, that would mean I need to buy and built the K1, KX1 and all those mini modules... Sounds good. 73, matt W6NIA On Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:25:46 -0700, you wrote: After seeing a recent post about building a K2, I'm wondering how many K3 owners have actually built a K2? It would seem that some kind of right of passage should be given to those people that have built a K2 or even a K1, before purchasing a K3. Maybe a sticker that they can put on their K3 or a special certificate to hang on the wall? Of course, I'm excluding those that can't build because, of physical dissability. I'm just thinking of all the fun that they missed building a K2 and perhaps they would appreciate the K3 even more. Just trying to stir the pot. ;-) Gary, N7HTS __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 ANT HOLD?
You can now enter the label for the active antenna. Use the VFO A dial to select the character at the current position. Use the VFO B dial to move the position through the 5 position. matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:41:14 -0800, you wrote: If the K3 ANT button is HELD, the VFO B digits switch to a 5 digit display that looks like it's waiting for an input. NIL in the manual on this. Function? 73 - Steve WB6RSE __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Low and High Power Cmd
These are good candidates for macros. T5W, T100W maybe? 73, matt W6NIA On Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:25:10 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Is there such a command. I had this radio for about a year and I have to keep turning the knob to go from 100 watts to five watts. I don't recall in my book a cmd for it but was wondering if there was a firmware upgrade. I use my amp every day and before I use it, I always go to five watts on the radio, tune the antenna and then go back to high power to push the amp. I have to keep turning the knob and it's a pain. At the rate I'm going, this radio will have to sent back to Elecraft for a new knob/tumbler. This could get expensive. Is there something on the number panel to get this command up? It takes a bunch of turns to go from high to low power. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Noise Blankers
Hi Tom, Well, I have a K3 noise blanker story for you. About two months ago, I suddenly had an S9+20 line noise problem around here. I knew it was some type of failed Edison equipment, or maybe something at a residence. It was loud enough to hear with a stubby for ANT1, and on 80m through 30m under any conditions. I had to diddle the K3's noise blanker a bit to get it dialed in right, but I finally killed the crud on the Main and Sub receivers. There was a residual amount of distortion; I had never run the NB this aggressively before - never had to. However, effectively the noise was blanked down to S7 or so on 40m where it was the worst. And it made 80m usable again on CW... In a few days, an Edison power quality tech came out and located the noise source. Some customer-owned (but unused) transformers on a citrus farm a few blocks from us had open primaries. He had the feed to them disconnected and notified the owner that they needed to be replaced (they weren't working anyway). These transformers were used to power irrigation pumps, so the owner got the problem cleared up right away. I was completely amazed how well the NB works under very difficult conditions. May no one else have to find out how well this feature works in the same way or for a similar reason. 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 K2 #2810 Except for being a paying customer, I have no formal affiliation with Elecraft. On Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:38:35 +, you wrote: I'm overdue for a new radio (at least, that's what I am telling my XYL). In considering the purchase, unfortunately one of the major considerations I must take into account is the noise blanker function. I have recently moved to an area with A LOT of power line noise. I have high voltage lines around my immediate QTH. It is a constant S3 to S5 on all bands above 7 MHz and, sometimes on really cold mornings, a seperate, additional noise kicks in that takes it to S9 or more. I am trying to locate these noise sources but have been unable to so far. I must run the noise blanker on my old TS-850s at all times to help me manage this problem. With the NB engaged (which is 'always') I have audio distortion created from nearby signals, especially stronger signals within 30 kc's of my receive frequency, no matter at what level I run either of the noise blankers. I would like to hear from K3 owners who might have 'line noise problems' and know how the noise blanker in your K3 handles the problem. Mni Tnx / 73 K4NA _ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390710/direct/01/ __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Noise Blankers
A diesel fuel injection pump/system makes all kinds of electrical noise. There is no electrical ignition system in a diesel engine. 73, matt, W6NIA On Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:47:52 -0500, you wrote: A six cylinder diesel doesn't have ignition noise. What noise are you comparing against? 73, Guy. On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 11:38 PM, rfenab...@gmail.com wrote: To be honest I have not found any noise the NB would not get rid of. Having said that, I have a 6 cylinder diesel that does give my TS-480SAT some measure of grief. Just for my own knowledge I hooked the K3 to the same power lead fitted with Anderson plugs as with all my power leads, and, the result was impressive. Where the 480 was struggling the K3 shone and I was happy with the result. From this you can surmise that the K3 NB is very effective on ignition noise. Hope you are getting good information to help you decide. 73's and good luck whichever way you jump. Gary VK4FD Sent via BlackBerry® from Telstra __ 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 __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft[K-3] K144XV
I installed a production K144XV recently. It's been in K3 #24 for about 10 days, and there haven't been any real issues with it. Mechanical installation went according to plan, and takes about 60 minutes. There is one power pin that needs to be soldered down to a pad on the RF Board to power the module. This step take more time than all the rest. FM / SSB / CW all worked fine with only a minor calibration on the WMTR MW. It's a good step to follow, and it's referred to in the assembly instructions. On the air testing went well, with FM and SSB working first time and no K3 transmit adjustments needed. For most if not all users, adding the K144XV is transparent from the op's point of view. You just added a band to the radio... No hassle operating it. The noise figure is extremely low (1.0 dB or less) with the transverter, so with the K3 using it, it hears quite well. As with the other bands, you can pretty much receive with preamp off and RF GAIN at one or two o'clock. No weirdness on TX either. Just good audio reports like with a normally equipped K3. Sensitivity is better than -125 dBm, and I think the MDS is perhaps 10 dB better than this figure. My signal generator only goes down to -125. At this signal strength, you hear a readily discernable signal (tone in my case). I've worked quite a few stations 40 miles out with just a 3 element Yagi at 20 feet. And that's using only the 10W provided by the K144XV. 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:54:52 -0500, you wrote: Anyone installed the K144XV yet ? Comments Phil K8MBY # 609 __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft[K-3] K144XV
Mechanical installation went according to plan, and takes about 60 minutes. There is one power pin that needs to be soldered down to a pad on the RF Board to power the module. This step take more time than all the rest. This has already been added to production RF boards, but those with existing K3s will need to solder the pin in. Well, #24 needed it. Sensitivity is better than -125 dBm, and I think the MDS is perhaps 10 dB better than this figure It's actually more like -144 dBm (500-Hz bandwidth). Maybe you were referring to FM sensitivity at 10 dB S+N/N? A much wider bandwidth is used in that case. I was using SSB, 2.8 KHz for this measurement. -125 is the best the old HP8656B can do. At that level, the signal is solid, readily usable. I KNOW the MDS is way down from here, but I couldn't measure it easily. For FM, I didn't try the measurement. I was too busy with fun with distortion finagling. If I measure FM sensitivity, what would you expect (er, what did you measure in the lab)? I'll borrow an attentuator and a couple patch cables, and see where I measure the MDS using 500 Hz BW. Want to bet it's within spittin' distance of -144? :) I can repost with these results, but I will clear them with you and/or Eric first. The spec sheet doesn't show MDS. matt 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 not communicating with PC
If there's any doubt which COM port is used by the KUSB, you can use the Device Manager - Ports to list all the COM ports. The one with Prolific shown is your KUSB. Sometimes in enumeration, USB-Serial adapters will change COM port ID from boot to boot. 73 matt W6NIA On Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:03:49 -0500, you wrote: Roger, I think you may be experiencing the problem I had which I asked about yesterday subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Firmware update question - k3fw3r68 Check your ports with the elecraft utility, I had the same kind of issue and I needed to find an open port that gave me 4800 bps. I never had the problem before after an update to a new version. Perhaps you've just updated? Or perhaps your port is active to a different application using the port you had assigned in the utility at a prior time? Gary KA1J Hi all, I can't work out why my K3 has stopped communicating with my PC. Besides the K3 utility I'm using HRD. Up to now I've used the KUSB which has worked fine, it was bought with K3 #191 at the same time. I reinstalled the drivers checked Baud rate (38400), swapped ports etc but still no go. I then tried a standard RS232 instead, but still it does not work. What am I missing here? Any help would be appreciated (my email is set to digest mode). 73 Roger MW0IDX K3 #191 K2 #2724 KX1 #416 __ 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 __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Reflector
Try WinRAR. matt W6NIA On Sat, 09 Jan 2010 12:23:24 -0500, you wrote: Raymond, You will need something to un-compress them. Look here http://www.gzip.org/index-f.html 73, Mike NF4L Raymond METZGER wrote: Hi, There is a zipped downloadable version of the Reflector at QTH.net The files have the following structure : year-month.txt.gz How can I read the content of these files ? Thanks for the help Raymond, F4FNT K3/100 #0615 K2/100 # 5,636 __ 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 __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KPA3 Failure
Did you try measuring the voltage at the 12V input of the KPA3? matt W6NIA On Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:50:04 +, you wrote: Has anyone had a KPA3 cause the display to show ERR 12 v? Power supply checks out normal as do the leads. The circuit breaker is in line and does not drop out. Connections appear ok as does the antenna system which is resonant etc. When the error is displayed the K3 reverts to low power 12w out max. Resetting does not correct the fault, tried placing the KPA3 to bypass and all works fine. Changed the setting to PA nor and the fault returns immediately. Support have been notified by e-mail bit thought I would ask the group if anyone else has had this happen and if so, was it a KPA3 failure requiring replacement. Of course the warranty has expired...(:-(( 73's Gary K3 #679 Sent via BlackBerry® from Telstra __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] USB to serial that does not get stuck on CW on startup
The KUSB adapter also keys the radio. This seems to be only if you use DTR for keying I haven't seen the other two problems with the KUSB device. matt zilmer On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:19:38 -0800 (PST), you wrote: I have USB-serial device by Belkin. I use it with Vista and PTT/CW control. It works but: 1. While computer boots, it keys the radio 2. When computer awakens, N1MM or Logger 32 are frozen; restarting helps 3. High power kills the connection on some bands. Does anybody use USB-serial cable that does not have those problems? Ignacy ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: ADC Ref calibration
Just use a different (uncalibrated) DMM Then you can change the setting _twice_! matt zilmer, W6NIA On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:07:07 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Don't you hate it when your calibrated multimeter displays 5.00V on pin 2 of the ACC connector and you then don't have a reason for altering the setting? I feel like I've missed out :) - Shane K3/10: S/N 2127, KBPF3, KFL3B-FM, KFL3A-6K, KFL3A-2.8K, KFL3A-400, KTCXO3-1 KXV3. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: ADC Ref calibration
You have the satisfaction of knowing that your're right on the mark then. Well... at least very close. AND you've been spot on the whole time you've had the K3. Suggestion: Find somewhere else to tinker. The S-Meter is a good target. There has been some debate on that. Same with AGC adjustments. There is a lot to do here with the K3. Operating it is the best part. I think Elecraft has found us a whole new hobby, or a set of them. 73, matt, W6NIA K3 #24, K2 #2810, etc. On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:39:28 -0800 (PST), you wrote: The multimeter *did* read 5.007 volts but I couldn't enter the additional 7mV into the K3. Talk about annoying Matt Zilmer wrote: Just use a different (uncalibrated) DMM Then you can change the setting _twice_! matt zilmer, W6NIA On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:07:07 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Don't you hate it when your calibrated multimeter displays 5.00V on pin 2 of the ACC connector and you then don't have a reason for altering the setting? I feel like I've missed out :) - Shane K3/10: S/N 2127, KBPF3, KFL3B-FM, KFL3A-6K, KFL3A-2.8K, KFL3A-400, KTCXO3-1 KXV3. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com - Shane K3/10: S/N 2127, KBPF3, KFL3B-FM, KFL3A-6K, KFL3A-2.8K, KFL3A-400, KTCXO3-1 KXV3. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] LINE OUT output too low?
FWIW, standard Line Out is 1Vp-p at 600 ohms line impedance. matt On Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:01:51 -0500, you wrote: Consumer line level ins and outs are designed to handle levels corresonding to a sine wave of at least 1V. 1.4v peak, 2.8v p-p. 600mV p-p is 13 dB below that. So yes, I agree with the guy who says that the Line Out level is pretty low. Sorta like a hot mic level. :) Unfortunately, amateur manufacturers have never used the consumer definition of line level. Every manufacturer seems to have a different definition for both level and impedance ... from 100 mV at 50K to 4V p-p at 600 Ohms. With the AF output mod (47 Ohms in series with the primary of the Line Out transformers), the K3's Line Out looks reasonably clean at 1V or more of audio. Prior to the change, harmonic distortion got fairly bad above 600 mV p-p. The absolute audio level is highly dependent on AGC settings - or the gain reduction caused by AGC action. 73, ... Joe, W4TV -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jim Brown Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 7:25 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] LINE OUT output too low? On Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:16:28 -0800, Lyle Johnson wrote: On my K3, with the AFMODKT changes in place on the KIO3 board, and driving an open circuit, I get up to 600 mV p-p of audio output if LINE OUT is set to 100 while listening to a moderately strong signal with AGC activated. This of course depends on the signal strength, AGC settings and so forth. A typical output level is less, since the LINE OUT is normally set much lower than 100. Consumer line level ins and outs are designed to handle levels corresonding to a sine wave of at least 1V. 1.4v peak, 2.8v p-p. 600mV p-p is 13 dB below that. So yes, I agree with the guy who says that the Line Out level is pretty low. Sorta like a hot mic level. :) Now, audio is dynamic, and except for CW, is almost never a sine wave. Rather, it's dynamic, with its level varying widely depending on program. The RMS value of unprocessed (no compression or limiting) speech and music is typically 14 dB below the peak level. But think of it this way -- the audio circuitry has to be able to handle ALL the voltage in the audio stream, including all the noise and QRM, and most of that noise is very spiky -- that is, their peaks are often 20-30 dB hotter than their average value, and those peaks can clip and create distortion long before the signal distorts, making the audio a real mess. Bottom line -- an audio output stage for a communications RX needs a lot of headroom. 73, Jim K9YC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] LINE OUT output too low?
In the past, it was suggested that folks add a T or Pi attenuator to bring the level down. I build two 13 dB T attenuators for 600 ohms, and this worked fine - one for MIC IN and the other for SPKR OUT - this is on a laptop. Housing them (inline) in micro-miniature plastic housings once used for a Magellan GPS PIFA antenna. Doing this allowed much finer control over levels than I had before. I had to run Line In at 2 - which for PSK or other data modes leaves no control space at all. Now I can run it at 14 or 15, which is just right. 73, matt zilmer, W6NIA k3 # 24 On Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:42:10 -0800 (PST), you wrote: André Santos wrote: The actual output level (or amplification) for some reason is well below the standard for line outs. Elecraft should address this problem. That may or may not be the case but it is more than ample to drive a sound card input. To drive my sound card without overload I only need the line out level set to about 4. The problem is worse for those who use laptops because most new laptops appear not to have a line input at all, only a microphone input which of course is a lot more sensitive and requires even less signal from the K3. - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. http://www.g4ilo.com/ G4ILO's Shack http://www.ham-directory.com/ Ham Directoryhttp://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html KComm for Elecraft K2 and K3 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] LINE OUT output too low?
Thanks, both Paul and Jim for this information. Very useful and I'll update my knowledge base with it! 73, matt On Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:45:53 -0800, you wrote: On Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:28:32 -0500, Paul Christensen wrote: FWIW, standard Line Out is 1Vp-p at 600 ohms line impedance. matt I think you'll find standard, nominal Line-In/Out consumer levels to be referenced to -10 dBV irrespective of Z, where 0dBV = 1 Vrms. Yes. 600 ohms has not been part of audio practice, pro or consumer, for at least 40 years. ALL line level and mic level audio circuits, pro and consumer, are low impedance source, high impedance termination. The signal is transferred as a voltage, not as power or current. Typical output impedances are on the order of 100 ohms, input impedances are typically 10K for pro line level, 50K for consumer line level. 100 ohms is chosen primarily because it is a good value for isolation of op amps from the capacitance of the cable that it drives. This capacitance can be significant in pro installations, but rarely in consumer applications. This standard started with the old IHF, merged into EIA, and then somewhere along the way I believe AES became the recognized standard-setting organization in North America. K9YC would know I can't speak to the history of these standards, but The AES Standards Committee is an international body, of which I am a member. -10 dBV is equivalent to 0.316 Vrms. If we assume a worst-case 10 dB peak-to-average ratio (and probably a lot less depending on the K3's AGC menu settings), then the maximum distortion-free signal voltage handling required is 0 dBV or 1 Vrms or 2.83 Vp-p. Yes. For those who are interested, there's more on this in the tutorials on my website. http://audiosystemsgroup.com/publish 73, Jim Brown K9YC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 power supply
Astron RS-50 may be the one. No worries here, with a ton if extras powered from it. At a 40 Amp load, I see a 0.15V droop to 13.5VDC. No stress. 73, matt On Thu, 25 Dec 2008 23:32:23 -0500, you wrote: I've been re-considering my power supply. I'm using a Heathkit PS which is a 20 amp linear supply. I just looked inside it and it's definitely showing the effects of age. It hasn't been used in quite a long time as I've used a TenTec supply with my Corsair Omni since day one. Ihave a few things runing on 12V and they probably draw 2-5 amps on a steady draw. With the K3 I suppose my requirement would be 22A so I'm looking at a 27 or so amp load. I'm currently using wall warts to supply the 12V peripherals and would like to unclutter my station and meet all my 12V needs. I'm considering several power supplies looking at eHam reviews I see Jetstream. They have high reviews and make a nicely affordable 28A for $79 and 45 amp power supply for $149. Anyone have any experience with these the K3? I'm thinking the larger one might be a good choice in that the components wouldn't be stressed at my station. I do prefer low stress... Any thoughts on these supplies? Hope Santa was good to you! Gary KA1J ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT: Odd 40M signal?
Ken, It's not your ears - it is there. Sounds like unstable discrete tones with a rep rate of maybe 10 hz or so. Freq: CW mode on 7031.000. QTH: S. Cal, near LA Time: 0630 UTC I can send you the Spectran waterfall directly, so I'll do that 73, matt On Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:11:33 +, you wrote: Can anyone verify the twittering signal I've been hearing on 7031 for a number of hours? My PSK waterfall shows it to be about 2 kHz wide and appears a bit unstable. I'd feel better if someone could verify that it's not local to me. (:-)) 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP elecraftcov...@rfwave.net ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT: Odd 40M signal?
I should have mentioned that I had it at S8, just about my noise level (long wire ant @ 140'). This was 0630 on 12/26, UTC. matt On Fri, 26 Dec 2008 08:20:06 +, you wrote: The 7031 signal is being widely heard. It's not strong here in Montana, however. I'll be interested to see if it's still there in the AM. I've been hearing it for at least ten hours. Is it -strong- at anyone's location? 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT-USB Serial Adapter
I've used the Keyspan as well as an Ethernet/serial adapter to connect a laptop to the K3. Both work fine, but the Prolific (KUSB) adapter seems a bit faster on program loading and bulk data - the configuration settings, for example.. The only purpose for using the Ethernet adapter was to operate the K3 remotely, not for program loading. I found that it was a little more convenient to keep the KUSB with the radio and use the Keyspan for all other serial connections, rather than moving the Keyspan to the K3 when it was needed. The footprint of the KUSB is also smaller than the Keyspan. Just leave it connected full-time. If anyone is interested in getting the Ethernet adapter model number, let me know. It's a BB Electronics device, but I don't have the model number with me. 73, matt On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:05:50 -0700, you wrote: Hi All, For what it's worth, Buy.com currently has a Keyspan USB Serial Adapter on sale for $25 (reg. price $40). It's the model USA-19HS. I don't have one of these (I use a couple of Belkin adapters), but I've seen other posts by folks who are using some Keyspan model successfully to connect their K3 to their laptops. I can't attest as to whether or not this model works with a K3, but perhaps others can. Anyway, if you are looking for such an adapter, this might be of interest. These Buy.com specials tend to be good only for a day or two. Dave W7AQK ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] test msg
testing ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K3 Dual Receive Surprise
I was working on 160m CW during the contest and noticed an interesting phenom when hearing static crashes. The subRX (vertical polarized antenna) received the noise later than the receiver on the long wire (horz pol). The K3 was set in diversity receive mode. Being new to receiver diversity, I'd never thought through all of the implications. Is it possible that two wavefronts arrive at times different enough that this can actually be detected audibly? Anyone else ever noticed this or have any kind of explanation? I don't know if it's a DSP audio delay thing, or something physical Out There. 73 and :) matt zilmer K3 #24 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Dual Receive Surprise
On Sat, 24 Jan 2009 10:06:22 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Ordinary and extraordinary? I.e. different polarisations being refracted at different heights. Pretty sure it's The Weird Stuff Out There. What occurred to me after reading your reply is that it seems possible that the e-m fields' components have different characteristics due to polarization, and are arriving at the two antennas simultaneously. They just sound different, maybe have different durations and strengths. As I said, this is my first time using a diversity-capable receiver, and it looks like there is a lot to learn... Um, I don't *think* it's my hearing. But, well you never know. 73 and Thanks, matt ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Firmware request
In K22 mode (extended K2 cmds), try polling the K3 via the KY; command. When the response is KY2; from the rig, the message has completed and the transmission is complete. Polling twice a second is probably adequate. Remember that you have to send the K22; before transmitting, because if you don't you will never see KY2; coming back. P9 of the K3 Programmer's Manual, available on the Elecraft website under Manuals and Downloads, will help here too. 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:46:52 -0800, you wrote: David, Thanks. Yes, but I want the computer to be able to tell directly. Of course, if MON is set to a certain level, I suppose one could have the computer keep checking the MON level, but that is a pretty indirect approach to determining when the message has finished. 73, andy, ae6y - Original Message - From: David Pratt da...@g4dmp.fsnet.co.uk To: Andrew Faber andrewfa...@ymail.com Cc: Giulio Pico - IW3HVB iw3...@gmail.com; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2009 1:48 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Firmware request In a recent message, Andrew Faber andrewfa...@ymail.com wrote ... I like this idea also. But then we also would need some way of knowing when a message finishes. For example, under computer control, if I send a TX command to go into TX mode, then a command to start playing a message, the radio has to let me know somehow when the message is finished, so that I can send an RX command. It has already been suggested that the MON level be set to a predetermined level when a message is being sent. In that way you would actually hear the progress of the playback. 73 -- David G4DMP Leeds, England, UK -- __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 Assembly - KSYN3 Installation
Hi Walter, Don't know OBTW but on some male connectors unused pins are cut to use as keys. I don't recall this being one of them, however. There is no easy way to plug the KSYN3 in backwards but it's possible the key is added to keep the connector from being misaligned If there is a keyplug inserted into the matching female pin hole, then this is certainly a key pin. Elecraft doesn't screw up things like this. Pins 3 and 6 are n/c, so it's likely your cut pin is pin 3, and it's being used as a key. Check your schematics to be sure that it's pin 3, then move on. Oh yes. Welcome to K3-ness. You'll feel better shortly. 73, matt zilmer, W6NIA K3 #24 On Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:55:14 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Greetings, Ref: K3 Kit Assembly Manual, Rev. F, October 28, 2008. I was just about to install the KSYN3 (ref manual, page 50) when I noticed that one pin on P73 on the KSYN3 board is missing. Looking at the figure on page 50, it is the third pin from the right, top row. The pin comes off the PCB, bends and enters the plastic, but it is missing on the other side (pins that insert into J73), close to the plastic portion of the plug. Just a tiny bit of the pin shows, not enough to insert into J73 at all. The manual does not have an OBTW regarding this, nor could I find any reference here on this missing pin, and the pictures in the manual, including the parts list photo do not reveal a missing pin. S..can anybody please provide the missing clue so I can proceed with confidence or contact Elecraft. Thanks much. Walter, N0DZJ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 and PSK31
If you're using Data A, make sure the CONFIG:PTT-KEY setting is correct to actuate TX. For example DTR-OFF lets the DTR signal key the TX. Digipan can accommodate this too. Data A is a good choice for this. The K3 is an excellent data radio and this mode supports PSK31 quite well. 73, matt On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:37:30 -0600, you wrote: OK, Stupid question, I can't believe I can't get this running. PSK31 operation PC to K3, Digipan (then HRD/DM780 when I get it figured out, one thing at a time). Windows XP pro, Digipan, both signals checked on the comm 1 port for transmit, NO Rigblaster, serial cable direct to 1.7 gig PC, sound card on the mother board, K3/100 (plus options). What mode am I supposed to have the K3 in? 1. Data, Data A, vox or not = won't go into transmit. 2. USB mode, goes into transmit and transmits data as expected except that the frequency is 600 Hz above the VFO setting and does not follow the waterfall frequency. Works fine on 746 through original Rigblaster, I didn't think it was supposed to be needed on the K3. TIA, 73, de Jim KG0KP __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] unlinking vfos
Pressing the SUB switch for a little over one second seems to alleviate this symptom. This is in the manual. matt On Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:15:23 -0500, you wrote: Somehow I managed to get my vfos linked in my K-3. Can anyone tell me how to get them unlinked so that turning vfo A does not change vfo B? I don't know how I managed to do that but I must have pressed the wrong button at the right time. I haven't been able to find anything about it in the manual. Bruce-W8FU __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Strange behavior when tuning around with SUB receiver LINKED
James, What rev of firmware are you using? I went through test on all of them I could with the subreceiver, which I didn't install until 2.72 was current. I can't duplicate your results with 2.82. It may not be a firmware-related issue (or issues). In the first problem statement, it sounds like you have the VFO's linked. Are you also in DIVRSTY or not? As I understand it, the spectrum covered is carved up into band sections, each allowing the VCO control voltage to traverse a good part of its control range. Very few (if any?) of these breaks is within a ham band. The behavior you described at 5997 could be tied to the down-tune break at that freq. The up-tune break is 5 KHz or so higher. You might want to see if you can repeat this tuning up as well. I can't duplicate this problem here with 2.82. If there is a real bug here in the FW rev you're using, it *ought* to affect tuning in both directions. For your second problem statement, the following may apply. There is a chirp radar between 5184 and 5212 KHz (approx). The chirp goes through the passband pretty quickly, maybe within 150-200 mS and the rep rate is a little under one second. It's a wideband signal, and you may be hearing it as a zipper-like noise. You didn't say whether or not you heard it as a repeated or continuous signal, so I can't be sure this is what you're describing. 73, matt zilmer, W6NIA On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:40:24 -0500, you wrote: Dear group, Someone please explain to me what's happening with my K3. I have both main receiver and sub receiver linked. This way, I can tune the sub receiver with the main VFO knob. However, there's something weird going on when I cross some sort of band edge. For example, if both VFO A and VFO B are set to 6.020.00 and I tune down the band using the main VFO knob, as soon as VFO B reaches 5.997.00 the readout in VFO A will jump almost 900KHz down to 5.030.1. When tuning back up the band, when VFO B reaches 6.017.0, the reading in VFO A will jump almost 900KHz again to 6.959.0 Sometimes the difference can be 500KHz or 900KHz. When this happens, I also hear a clicking noise in the K3, and I'm assuming it's a relay switching. I've seen this behavior while tuning up and down, which leads me to think that the K3 is hitting band edges and adjusting, but the strange thing is, the frequency between VFO A and VFO B do not stay the same. Also, and possibly another more concerning issue is that when the sub receiver is on, and I'm tuning anywhere from 4.9 to 5.9MHz, there is a loud motorboat or zipper noise that is heard through the speaker, and is affected by spinning either VFO A or VFO B knob. The noise stops if you don't turn any VFO. Turn any VFO knob though, and the motorboat zipper noise resumes. If you turn off the sub receiver and spin any VFO knob, this zipper-like or motorboat noise almost goes away. It is still there, but now very faint and can barely be heard over the static. 73, James KC2UEE __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K5D on my K3/10 and 80m inverted vee
Randy, it just keeps getting better and better. Even this lousy sunspot season can't keep the K3 down. Was unable to sleep after about 2 AM this morning. Decided to see what early-morning activity was up. Tuned around 3523 and there's K5D! QSX up with the KRX3, and there's all his callers! Third try got him, and it would've taken a lot longer without the KRX3. There were some Big Guns in this spread-out pileup! My little K3 at 25 Watts and a wire antenna sure showed them who's boss! :) 73, matt zilmer, W6NIA On Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:52:22 -0600, you wrote: Just dropped a single call to K5D on 17m SSB at 10w. and got him first time! Also got him first call on 30m CW. This K3 mojo is fine stuff!! Of course I also called dozens of times on 40m CW, 20m CW and 17m CW with no results at all :-( 73, Randy, KS4L __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Another K3 programming question
Just tap (almost) any key to abort DVR playback; same model as the CW memory playback. I use the REC key since it's nearby the M1 - M4 keys and The Finger is in the neighborhood anyway matt On Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:18:36 -0500, you wrote: Hi All, OK, so have the logger(RUMped) now keying the DVR in the K3 directly (very cool), next question is is there a way to send an abort to the K3 through the serial line to stop the DVR while its playing? Just like if you tap the M1 to play a canned CQ in SSB then tap the RIT button to abort the transmission? Thanks again, Lee -WW2DX __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
Most of my contacts are QRP, despite having a 100W PA available. I was taught a long time ago to use only (about) as much power as was needed to establish and maintain contact. The operating method usually entails starting at 2W and working up through 5W to see if the contact will work out if I'm calling someone's CQ. If I'm calling CQ, I try for a while at the lowest setting and continue to work up over time to 5W, sometimes 10W. I seldom need to go over 5W though. If the bands are dead, as they've been on/off recently, whether or not you're using QRO or QRP, you can still just be talking to yourself. That's OK, becase half the time the bands are dead it's because everyone's convinced themselves that since they don't hear anything there's nothing to hear. I worked CQ WW DX a month after my K3/10 arrived, and had a great time - but didn't break any of my own prior bests. This was before having the 100 W PA installed. I had _never_ worked ZS before using 100W and did it on 8 Watts with a long wire. Five other _new_ countries (for me) also, mostly on 40m split. All that being said, I find it quite difficult to break pileups with QRP. Always have. Mostly timing and operating skills are used since QRP can't truly stomp through a pileup of signals being received at 20-30 dB higher levels. Mostly timing though. QRP can make you work harder though, than QRO. You don't have power to use as a breaker bar, but you have everything else you've _learned_ about operating. And after a while it isn't so difficult and kinda fun to try low power first, then work up to what it takes to make and maintain the contact. QRP CW is actually amazing and can get surprisingly good results. SSB is not as forgiving and often has lower throughput. QRP JT65 on 80m or 40m at night gets truly stellar results. 73, matt W6NIA K2 #2810 K3 #24 On Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:34:00 -0800, you wrote: A few years back in our little farming community, there was a fellow whose name was Francis. Francis was an avid hunter. At this time, the rumor went around the community that Francis had been fined for deer jacking. Out of his truck one night, with a spot light, he took a shot at a plastic deer planted by game wardens. Soon it became a joke .Sir Francis the deer slayer. Something within me seemed to understand Francis point of view. He was a pragmatist .. He had little interest in the thrill of the hunt. He was focused on the efficiency of the catch. Although QRO is far from illegal, it does seem to be somewhat more focused on the efficiency of the catch than the thrill of the hunt. So there is a certain un-romantic reality to QRO vs. QRP. I'm wondering, what percentage of contacts you've made QRO, that you would estimate as not attainable QRP. I hope I didn't break the list rules getting off-topic with the story :~/ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 - ERR 12V
I was 'inside' #24 anyway and saw this posting. Measured the DC resistance across the CB. I can't measure any resistance with the Fluke DVM. When keyed down on TUNE at 50W, I see no drop across the CB. Sounds like the contact suface is corroded or contaminated on yours. Better replace it. At least that's easy to do, and Elecraft should help you out on this. 73, matt W6NIA On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 09:36:47 -0400, you wrote: All of a sudden this morning, I started getting an error message on my K3, ERR 12V. Then it scrolled Check Circuit Breaker, which I assume was the PA circuit breaker. The radio would not transmit until power cycled and the power level was reset to below 12W. I am not convinced that it is a thermal issue, although it could be. I monitored the PA temp and it doesn't have a direct correlation. Temps are in the high 30's to low 40's. I removed the top cover and inspected the circuit breaker. There seems to be significant IR drop (10s of mv) across it even when not transmitting, so I am wondering if maybe the circuit breaker is failing. Has anyone seen anything like this before? __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] QRP Calling Frequencies
Here are a few links: http://www.zerobeat.net/qrp/qrpbands.html http://www.smeter.net/spectrum/amateur-qrp.php http://www.njqrp.org/data/qrp_freqs.html matt W6NIA On Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:26:09 -0700, you wrote: What are the QRP calling frequencies on the HF bands? Ed - W0YK __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] QRP Calling Frequencies
Yer welcome, Ed. Originally I found them on google. However, I've also used most of the 160m to 40m QRP freqs on the lists, and they're working freqeuencies. matt On Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:48:06 -0700, you wrote: Here are a few links: http://www.zerobeat.net/qrp/qrpbands.html http://www.smeter.net/spectrum/amateur-qrp.php http://www.njqrp.org/data/qrp_freqs.html matt W6NIA Thanks, Matt ... And Bob, and Sam and Kyle who replied direct! I have more confidence in your URLs than what I might find via Google. No more responses needed. Ed - W0YK __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] How to record Audio on K3
Try using Sound Recorder if you're running Windoze on the PC. 73, matt W6NIA On Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:56:56 -0700, you wrote: I wish to be able to record my K3 audio to explain a problem I am having to Elecraft. I have no idea how to do this. I have my Line Out connected to my sound card. How can I record what I hear and make a file and send it out? Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Assembly
I suspect many of us had some degree of fear factor when lowering the subrx into the depths for the first time. If you look carefully at how it's aligned, it would be really difficult to get it wrong. This isn't apparent during the first attempt though. And yes - a terrific radio is the K3. It's very cool to have a radio that you can add features into whether they're firmware or hardare. Basic performance with/without all the available features makes it worth owning just a plain jane K3/10 though... Enjoy! 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 (subrx was my last addition a couple months ago) On Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:33:37 -0700 (PDT), you wrote: After 2 months sitting on the bench and 2 weeks of on and off assembly, I finally have my K3/KPA3/KRX3, etc., up and running. I was a little apprehensive about lowering the sub receiver into the radio with all the RF cables in the way and difficulty in seeing the sub-in and sub-out connectors, but it went in relatively smoothly. So far it is a terrific radio. My only quibble is that I wish it had band buttons( and yes, I know, there is software for that and I use HRD) and band stacking registers. I just don't like a radio tied to a Mac(or PC) all the time, otherwise I might have a Flex :-). But it sure beats my PRO3 and TS480. 73, John N1JM __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 external speaker
These work well: http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Motorola-Spectra-Speaker-HSN6001A-Speakers_W0QQitemZ180341919310QQcmdZViewItemQQptZ2_Way_Radios_FRS?hash=item180341919310_trksid=p3286.c0.m14_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50 (copy the whole URL). 73, matt On Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:38:56 -0400, you wrote: I'm using an old car stereo door speaker now. Any one tell me the source for a good speaker for the K3. Any enclosure tips too. k9il K3 #2626 __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Mic setting and ALC question
You might have MENU:MIC SEL set to rP.H or FP.H. You can use the '1' key on the keypad to drop this gain to .L if that is the problem. It just sounds like the mic input signal / gain is too hot. I have four mics here that are used with the K3 and typically need to run MIC GAIN at between 15 and 23 with each of them. 73, matt W6NIA On Sun, 05 Apr 2009 10:34:30 -0400, you wrote: Hello group, Working phone on 40m tonight, and noticed that I could only set mic gain to 3 before ALC maxed out on the K3's meter. Is this normal? I'm using the stock Elecraft hand mic. 73, James K3JPS __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Mods/Addition suggestions for order of installplease
I'm with Ron on this, although I did a set of 8 mods all at one sitting. K3 #24 started life as a K3/10 kit and over time I've nickel-and-dime loaded it up almost to maxed out configuration. It's been apart almost as much time as it's been sitting in the shack running. But probably no one beats Ron's 100-cycle record... The hardware (ELX) is very robust and overdesigned; same with the ME hardware - panels, screws, etc. You won't gork anything up by disassembling the K3 if you do it corectly - no matter how many times you open 'er up. Disassembly and reassembly actually gets easier over time. This is true both subjectively and objectively. Just be sure you have the proper tools and follow the take-apart and put-together instructions. The idea someone had about doing only one mod at a time is a good one because it lets you check the results before moving on to the next mod. However, I'm not that patient... :) 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 K2 #2810 On Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:41:42 -0700, you wrote: ...how many times do you want to strip down the rig with the risk that implies to fastener failure, static damage, scratches etc? 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174 However, the K3 was designed to be worked on easily! My K3 has been apart many, many times, sometimes all the way down to the RF board. The number assembly/disassembly cycles is easily approaching 100 times over the past two years. I've had no fastener failures, no connector problems, no ESD failures, no scratched panels, no issues of any sort.* Wayne specifically ordered the build sequence to provide for one-at-a-time option installations for exactly the reason Fred mentions. The kit assembly manual does include preparing the K3 for adding several options to minimize the work needed later. For example, if you're building it with the 100 watt KPA3 option, you put in the rear (KPA3) shield during initial assembly. If you're building it and installing the subreceiver (KRX3) option, you install the auxiliary DSP board in the front panel assembly during initial assembly. There are other examples of such preparatory work, all covered in the kit assembly manual, as specifically ordered by Wayne to avoid complicating troubleshooting should there be a problem at some point while still minimizing the amount of work needed to add each option. Ron AC7AC * Monitoring this and the K3 support reflector, the only issue I've seen brought up by builders is when some over tighten screws or use the wrong size/type screwdriver, causing their drivers to cam out, sometimes putting small scratches on the screw head. That's avoided by tightening the screws as described in the assembly manual and being sure you use a screwdriver that fits the screw snugly. __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Mods/Addition suggestions for order of installplease
That was about a Cadillac I think. You'll know it when you see it. :) I had a reasonable familiarity with the K3 before surgery. This helps a lot. All mods were a-ok and checked out, but this approach isn't for everyone. It was a long session to do that all at one pull. This is one of those ymmv thingies. 73, matt On Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:08:38 +0100, you wrote: Well, I think I was going to do all mine in one go because Matt had said he did them all. But my original thought was to do one at a time to be sure each was working. So I'll go back to the 1 piece at a time.. didn't Johnny Cash write a song about that? :-) __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Line In not working ?
I've been using 3.10 since it was first available for testing. DATA A mode works fine. Fifteen or so QSO's on PSK31 since 3.10 was first made available for test says it's ok anyway. Make sure your Line Out (at the PC) is enabled and has a level set. It looks like you've checked everything else. There isn't that much that can go wrong. 73, matt W6NIA On Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:15:21 +0200, you wrote: Hello, getting finally around to setting up my K3 for RTTY/PSK, ie. hooking the line in/out to the computer, I noticed that Line In doesnt work for me. - Cables are OK (tested by plugging into MIC IN, the signal is rather loud but there) - MICSEL to LineIn, and line level have been tried up to 60 - Some time ago when I had my K3 open I had done all the mods re. audio (mainly line out and the gnd mods) . I double-checked and all seems as per spec... - Using an ohmmeter to measure into line-in yields 630 ohm which looks about right as per schematic, so I didnt short-circuit things... - I updated firmware to 3.10 Could someone please confirm that Line In does work with fw rev 3.10 ? Any further ideas ? Mario __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AF line out to mic attenuation
Chris, I think this is one of those your mileage may vary things. With this older HP laptop, I have a bit of overdrive going the other way - from the computer to the Line In on the K3. Adding an attenuator allowed the me to get better control (more granularity) over the laptop's audio out and at the same time lowered the drive level at the K3. You can build a Pi or T attenuator for either in or out at the computer. A fairly good calculator for this can be found at http://www.daycounter.com/Calculators/PI-T-Pad-Attenuator-Calculator.phtml FWIW, I designed and built a 5 dB attenuator for 1k line impedance. It seems to work and allowed volume adjustment to occur in smaller steps, which in this case is what was necessary to combat too much drive at lower Line In settings at the K3 (setting 4 was as high as I could use it, and setting it at 3 was too low). You can also buy a better sound device like the EMU-0202 from Creative Labs. This approach has the additional benefit of keeping digital modes' sound separate from whatever your computer o/s and applications generate. 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:53:38 +1000, you wrote: Hello, I want to connect K3 audio line out to a Toshiba laptop which only has a 3.5 mic socket for audio in. Does anyone have recommendations for attenuation/impedance matching? I was thinking of a simple votage divider. Thanks, Chris VK2LCD __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] How do I make my K3 go to HP (100 W)
I'm using FW rev MCU 3.11 / DSP 2.15, but a lot of revs back I saw the K3 reset to LP from HP when a high SWR was encountered. Only noticed this afterward [not watching the RF power meter at the time]. Had to manually set CONFIG:KPA3 back to nor to get HP capability back. I haven't seen this since, but it might be a bug. For my part, I just thought it was operator error... 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:51 +, you wrote: The K3 went to LP yesterday without me knowing it. I was surprised that no one on the QCWA CW net could hear me until I finally looked at the power meter. When CONFIG TX GN is examined, it says LP but I don't find a way to make it go to HP. If the PA has failed the K3 didn't tell me. I had planned on using the K3 for the 7th Call Area party tomorrow, and I hope some one can help this over-the-hill operator understand how to use this radio. 73, Jim w3cp __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] How do I make my K3 go to HP (100 W)
And strangely, this problem will never trouble you again I hope so, anyway. 73, matt W6NIA On Sat, 02 May 2009 05:23:43 +, you wrote: Many thanks to W6NIA,NT6A,N5GE, AB7R for advice and suggestions, but still no success. Finally went to Elecraft Utility, did a update and turned the radio off. Sometime later I turned the radio on and it was on HP! All operation seemed normal; it could be switched from HP to LP and then back to HP with the PWR knob, just as it should and as it didn't when the problem ocurred. Sort of an unsatisfactory fix, don't know the cause or the cure. 73, Jim w3cp __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Issue with 3.11/2.15
Hi Gregg, I've been using 3.11/2.15 for some time and have never observed what you describe. You might want to try reloading the firmware to see if that helps. 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Sun, 03 May 2009 13:33:05 -0400, you wrote: K3 sn 47 I just upgraded to the latest fw and when I power up the radio I get a brief shrill audio tone, the S meter pegs at full scale with no rx audio. After about 10-15 seconds the rx recovers and appears to operate normally. Is this a know issue with this release? Gregg W6IZT __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] What are you guys using for external speakers?
I have an inventory of old Motorola mobile 4-1/2 speakers in plastic enclosures. These seem to work quite well, and they're easy to acquire at swap meets and on eBay. They're not hi-fi, but they do present well for non-music receiving. 73, matt zilmer W6NIA On Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:17:47 -0400, you wrote: For loud stations and ragchews I don't use headphones. I'm currently using my old Yaesu SP-8 but it hardly matches the K3 paint. Anything out there that looks (and works) better? Don N1DG - N1DG--Licensed since 1962 EX-WB2DND, A61AD (GUEST OP, QSL MGR), A52DG, /KH9, /BV, /VS6, /4X, /9V Pilot: VU7RG, 3Y0X, VK9ML, D68C, VK0IR, K8XP/KH9, 9M0C, ZK1XXP, ZL9CI Webmaster: BS7H, 3Y0X, K5K, A52A, VK0IR, 9M0C, ZK1XXP, WB2DND/KH9, BQ9P, ZL9CI QSL Manager: A61AD, A61AO, A61X, A61AQ 2006 inductee into the CQ Magazine DX Hall of Fame Member: FOC, ARRL, DDXA, YCCC SKYPE: aurumtel Please consider the environment before printing this email __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Battery Charging with DC Power Supply
I just have to chime in on this one. I run my K3/100-based station on solar photovoltaic power, with a 100 AH SLA battery for storage. Quick description of this installation is that I use a charge controller to regulate battery charging. It's a Micro M+ c/c and can put out 4A for a 12VDC system. http://edge.rit.edu/content/P07308/public/Custom%20Charge%20controller The article is from October, 2001 QST. As others have stated, you should not charge *any* battery directly from an uncontrolled source like a power supply. If you want to use the battery as the main power source and recharge it periodically (or whenever the sun shines), you have to regulate the charge rate and voltage level presented to the battery. The Micro M+ does a fine job for smaller installations, and its max charge rate of 4A is adequate for topping a battery in the 100AH class. The Micro M+ uses pulse width to control the charge rate, and this is suggested for FLA and SLA battery types - others work with this method too (AGM, etc.). You can use the Micro M+ or its equivalent for any type of source - power supply, solar PV, bicycle generator, etc. When the weather is cloudy, I use a little Tektronics 3A AC/DC power supply and just run it full bore into the c/c. This works fine too. Details are below for those that are insomniacs Near the _big_ PV panels on the roof are the two Siemens SR50's, which are rated 50W each, and they are in parallel for the 12VDC system. The feed to the shack travels through a weatherproof enclosure that has a 10A fuse and GFP circuit breaker. This might be overkill. Together the two Siemens 50W panels are nameplate rated at around 6A. In practice, maximum output is a little over 5A on a really good sun day. The feed down to the shack is 8AWG THHN wire, about 30 feet of it, in flexible NMT. The 8AWG is to minimize the voltage drop to the charge circuitry. Both the battery and charge controller are here in the shack. 73, matt zilmer W6NIA K3 #24, K2 #2810 On Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:17:17 -0700 (PDT), you wrote: I am using an Alinco DM-330M power supply. Across the output of the power supply I have a 26 AH battery. If the AC power quits I have many hours to shut down the K3. Charging a battery with a DC supply not meant for that purpose is a very BAD idea. In the case of Astron supplies it can damage parts of the DC regulator. If there is a Crow Bar circuit that operates with a battery connected to the power supply output it will ruin your day or even burn your house down! Bill - K6WLM __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Battery Charging with DC Power Supply
Sorry, guess that term wasn't real clear. A power supply doesn't control the charge rate, it controls the output voltage. Most bulk storage batteries don't want to charge at high rates, say over 0.5C, although you can probably get away with it for a time. Controlling the charge rate generally improves battery life, although other things like equalization can help with this too (FLA's only!). For the SLA I have here, the recommended maximum continuous CV charge rate is 0.3C. In a way they're fairly picky when it comes to charging rates. Charging in a CV regime is fine as long as the rate is limited to whatever is best for the battery. But most power supplies that can handle a 100W rig like the K3 can may output more than this recommended charge rate, and unless you manually set the current limit to the max rate, they're uncontrolled in this respect. As with all things, YMMV applies. If you have a mega-battery like some 1200AH deep cycle home power type, then the max rate will be different. It's a guess, but I think most hams wouldn't be using that type of Rolls or Surette battery for their stations. I'd sure like to have a set for the main PV system here though. The home power batteries we use for the main PV system are 210 AH 6V golf cart batteries, a series string of 8 of them. The charger/inverter is set up to charge them at a rate only as high as 0.2C in normal circumstances (this is Exide's recommendation for max life). However, if we're off grid for awhile, I set it up to run 0.35C for about 2 hours to bulk them up. In this system , it is normal to pulse charge them. Some people call this a float or trickle charge. Xantrex just calls it normal for some reason. 73, matt W6NIA On Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:36:13 -0500, you wrote: I'm not quite sure what is meant by the term 'uncontrolled source'. A regulated power supply makes a fine battery charger. Review the charging recommendations at the various battery manufacturer sites such as here: http://www.power-sonic.com/index.php?doc_id=116 or here: http://www.powerstream.com/SLA.htm and you will see that constant voltage charging is one of several recommended charging methods. The charge voltage needs to be carefully regulated, which Aston and other power supplies should do, and it is certainly a very good idea to put a fuse in line with each battery to protect against the unknown. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with constant voltage float charging. At the phone co. we kept batteries on float charge for 20 to 25 years and they were instantly ready, indeed constantly on line, and fully charged. Keep the charge voltage set correctly, use proper safety precautions, follow the battery manufacturer's recommendations, and you should be fine. The recommended charge voltage varies by the type of battery. Flooded batteries require a somewhat lower voltage than do SLA or AGM types. For flooded cells the usual recommendation is about 13.5 to 13.6, but some manufacturers are lower than this, and for AGM it is usually a bit higher at 13.6 to 13.8. Check with the battery manufacturer to be sure. What you are trying to do is keep the battery fully charged but yet not burn off the water nor damage the plates. 73 de dave ab9ca/4 Matt Zilmer wrote: I just have to chime in on this one. I run my K3/100-based station on solar photovoltaic power, with a 100 AH SLA battery for storage. Quick description of this installation is that I use a charge controller to regulate battery charging. It's a Micro M+ c/c and can put out 4A for a 12VDC system. http://edge.rit.edu/content/P07308/public/Custom%20Charge%20controller The article is from October, 2001 QST. As others have stated, you should not charge *any* battery directly from an uncontrolled source like a power supply. If you want to use the battery as the main power source and recharge it periodically (or whenever the sun shines), you have to regulate the charge rate and voltage level presented to the battery. The Micro M+ does a fine job for smaller installations, and its max charge rate of 4A is adequate for topping a battery in the 100AH class. The Micro M+ uses pulse width to control the charge rate, and this is suggested for FLA and SLA battery types - others work with this method too (AGM, etc.). You can use the Micro M+ or its equivalent for any type of source - power supply, solar PV, bicycle generator, etc. When the weather is cloudy, I use a little Tektronics 3A AC/DC power supply and just run it full bore into the c/c. This works fine too. Details are below for those that are insomniacs Near the _big_ PV panels on the roof are the two Siemens SR50's, which are rated 50W each, and they are in parallel for the 12VDC system. The feed to the shack travels through a weatherproof enclosure that has a 10A fuse and GFP circuit breaker. This might be overkill. Together the two Siemens 50W panels are nameplate rated
Re: [Elecraft] K3/100
Just run the Transmitter Gain calibration for 5W and 50W using the K3 utility program, or manually as set forth in the Owner's Manual, p49. This solves most TXG problems. matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:07:14 -0400, you wrote: I just installed the KPA3 and am experiencing ERR TXG in several of the lower bands. The Owners manual refers you to the Service Manual. Can't seem to find anything on the Elecraft site about a Service Manual. Any assistance appreciated. Phil K3(352)TUF __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Unable to update firmware by RS-232 port
Hi Joe, Did you make sure that it's opening the correct serial port? If you're using a USB hub, sometimes the COMx port id moves around. If this is the case, you'll have to sniff it out. If it's a REAL serial port, sorry. No clues here on that. You can set the COMx port from the K3 Utility, using one of the tabs. Also, make sure the digital part of the KIO3 is plugged in and properly aligned to the connector. Try another serial or USB cable too if you have them around. GL, matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:09:54 -0400, you wrote: Hi, all, hope someone can help! I have updated my K3 with just about all firmware that has come along since I put the rig together in March, 2008 (ser no 584) and never had trouble -- until now. The K3 Utility suddenly reported that no K3 communications are available. I've done some of the updates (the RXA board, CW Rise time, KIO3 Remote Module, LINE OUT and Speaker amplifier) and have had the rig on the workbench a few time looking for an obvious error I have made. To date, the error remains elusive. Anyone have an idea of what I should look for? TIA! 73, Joe, W2RBA w2rba(at)arrl(dot)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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Unable to update firmware by RS-232 port
OK Joe. Sorry none of that worked out. When you buy Elecraft, you also buy excellent customer support. I'd suggest you contact supp...@elecraft.com. Given these symptoms, it's possible that the digital part of the KIO3 failed. This happens even in the best-designed systems. Or they may have troubleshooting advice for you. Don't give up. All problems can be overcome. Call or email Elecraft, and they'll help you get it figgered out. 73, matt zilmer, W6NIA On Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:27:57 -0400, you wrote: Hi, Matt, I'm not using a USB hub, my system used to work with a straight cable from a com port to the K3 or with the Elecraft/Prolific USB to rs-232 cable but no go, no matter which of four port I have. I also have checked for proper mating of the KIO3 but no go. It still confounds me why it worked for over a year and then stopped -- on three different computers! Thanks for your suggestions. Any others? :) 73, Joe, W2RBA Matt Zilmer wrote: Hi Joe, Did you make sure that it's opening the correct serial port? If you're using a USB hub, sometimes the COMx port id moves around. If this is the case, you'll have to sniff it out. If it's a REAL serial port, sorry. No clues here on that. You can set the COMx port from the K3 Utility, using one of the tabs. Also, make sure the digital part of the KIO3 is plugged in and properly aligned to the connector. Try another serial or USB cable too if you have them around. GL, matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:09:54 -0400, you wrote: Hi, all, hope someone can help! I have updated my K3 with just about all firmware that has come along since I put the rig together in March, 2008 (ser no 584) and never had trouble -- until now. The K3 Utility suddenly reported that no K3 communications are available. I've done some of the updates (the RXA board, CW Rise time, KIO3 Remote Module, LINE OUT and Speaker amplifier) and have had the rig on the workbench a few time looking for an obvious error I have made. To date, the error remains elusive. Anyone have an idea of what I should look for? TIA! __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Max-Gain MK-8
Steve, Thanks much. Nice pictures. About what I was thinking of doing too! 73, matt On Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:27:54 -0500, you wrote: I used an MK-8HD (50') for Field Day. I had an Arrow 2m/440M j-pole over a large dipole center insulator made from pvc pipe and used 300 Ohm ladder line and 140' of 14 gauge house wire. Once three people guyed it perfectly vertical it was OK for the rest of the weekend. However the top did bow before that. I purchased the three fiberglass guy rings that were nice ($5 each). It was actually extended about 43 feet total. I have some pics at: http://tinyurl.com/luwagy Next time I will use a much smaller center insulator. For NVIS, for MARS I will take off the top 1 OD section. Steve, W2MY, AAR6CX -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net]on Behalf Of Matthew Zilmer Do any of you Elecrafters have experience with Max-Gain's MK-8 fiberglass mast (telelscoping poles)? I'm interested in using their 50-footer guyed down as a center support for an 80m doublet. __ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] K3: SubRX KBPF-3 behavior
Hi, Recently I bought a KBPF3 from a private party, intending to use it in K3 #24's subRX for general coverage. It shows a very interesting behavior, one that I've not been able to change or explain. I should say that using the sub in certain settings may also be causing the problem, but this isn't a sure thing. On the ham bands when the KBPF3 is bypassed, the sub audio is clear and distinct. Outside the ham bands, for example on 5 MHz WWV or AM broadcast, the sub audio is muffled and sounds like its bandwidth is restricted (muffled and narrow banded) and there is some distortion. This is all by ear and compared to the main receiver. The main is very clear, and I've never had any complaints. Since the only difference between that I know of is having the KBPF-3 engaged on general coverage, the problem seems to follow KBPF-3. The problem could be something else though. That's what I'm trying to find out. However, having the front end filter affect IF makes no sense at all. That's why cause and effect aren't working for me here. Has anyone else seen this behavior with the subRX when using the KBPF-3 for general coverage receive? Any idea is welcome. Thanks and 73, matt zilmer, W6NIA K3 #24 K2 #2810 I'm confused how the front-end filter can have such an effect on __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Crackling audio with Noise Gate running
Try adjusting the noise gate level up until the crackle disappears. If you have it set too low, it doesn't seem to close quickly enough with high background noise levels. I had the same problem with a cooling fan behind me at an angle. Works fine now. The level here is 18. Of course, YMMV. You can set the gate with CONFIG:TX GATE using instructions in the owner's manual, on p59. 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 On Sat, 01 Aug 2009 01:03:38 +, you wrote: Howdy! I am using the Heil headset with the K3, and have the mic connected into the rear panel (the front panel connection was having RF distortion) with the HIGH bias level. The Mic gain is less than 5 and the compression is 10. The ALC is never out of the indicated range. With the TX GATE turned ON, I get reports of the audio sounding slightly distorted and there being crackling noises. I can hear these crackling sounds in between syllables when I turn up the monitor loud in the headphones. All the crackling noises disappear when I turn off the TX GATE. Do I have something adjusted wrong, or is it just natural to have the crackling noises and distortion when the TX GATE is on? I would prefer to run without any distortion, but my loud blower is right behind me and it is strong into the mic like a jet plane in between syllables without the TX GATE. Do I need to choose between the two evils? I would appreciate any guidance. Thanks! VY 73, Lance __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3
I spoke briefly with Eric about the 2m module while we were both at the ARRL SW Convention. He indicated the earliest first ship date would be sometime in mid-September. I don't know the first order quantity (how many they'll build in the first run), but it is probably enough to squirt the first few out the door. If I remember right, you were one of the first to show genuine interest in the K144XV. If you're really curious, try emailing Eric and cc the list. There are many people waiting on the 2m module, so you're not alone. 73, matt W6NIA On Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:23:00 -0400, you wrote: Just returned from 2 weeks in Hawaii. Is there any news on the new 2 meter module regarding a ship date? Phil Philip LaMarche LaMarche Enterprises, Inc. http://www.instantgourmetspices.com/ www.instantgourmetspices.com www.w9dvm.com http://www.w9dvm.com/ 800-395-7795 pin 02 727-944-3226 FAX 727-937-8834 NASFT 30210 K3 #1605 CCA 98 00827 CRA 1701 W9DVM __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] P3 display of K3 filter bandwidth and other information
I like the limb you're out on. Will there be a cursor function, similar to a spectrum analyzer - or does the P3 auto-center frequency in the IF center? If the answer is yes, text display of peak/average dB of a selected signal could be done. Maybe the cursor already exists and I just didn't see it on the face of the engineering unit at SB. 73, matt On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:58:05 -0700, you wrote: The P3 is connected to the K3 at a point ahead of the crystal filters, so when you change crystal filters on the K3, it won't change the P3's displayed waveform. However, the P3 will be aware of the K3's filter bandwidth and offset, so we can show a bracketed or otherwise highlighted area on the P3 display that reflects the filter settings. We could show both the DSP and crystal bandwidth using different colors. Going farther out on a limb: The P3 could highlight ham-band edges and band segments, even by license class, programmable by country. It could mix spectral and waterfall displays with decoded text. You could assign a function switch as an auto-tune switch for PSK31 -- etc., etc. (Somebody stop me!) 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] P3 display of K3 filter bandwidth and other information
On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:12:25 -0700, you wrote: We'll have a lot more to say about P3 operation in coming weeks. We have a bit of work to do It's a good thing that you have Al involved on this. You are already busy as can be. Be sure to let me know if you can think of any way to use CW regr extended or another program for testing. I'll try my imagination on this, but it would seem to require a sig gen and some way of dumping the display memory... Er, maybe it's simpler than that. Like eyeballing it. matt __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] NR settings at AD4C K3 now available at my website
I'm still evaluating the NR settings here. On strong SSB signals, it sounds OK to me, but seems to limit or compress weaker voice signals. I've been pleased with the improvement to CW signals, though the settings available don't seem to change output characteristics much on a strong CW signal. Probably no surprise. Intelligibility is much better on F1-1 with weaker CW signals. MP3 files aren't necessarily the best way to hear voice. The masking (or compression) is pretty good for rock music, but tends to cut out a lone voice. Or classical music, which gets cut down a lot in terms of the dynamics. MP3 probably works well for CW though. For voice comparisons I've done / seen in the past, WAV files work ok. Does anyone have more input on MP3 vs WAV? 73, matt W6NIA K3 # 24 On Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:36:15 -0600, you wrote: Ditto that. The CW performance sounds awesome. SSB... Better with it turned off. Bill W5WVO Steve Ellington wrote: Nice job. The file is AD4C K3-33, not 63...I listened to all your files. In every case, SSB was harder to understand (muffled) with the NR on and in spite of the noise, much easier to understand with NR off. CW sounded great with NR on. My opinion. Steve N4LQ n...@carolina.rr.com - Original Message - From: Hector Padron ad4c2...@yahoo.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 10:52 AM Subject: [Elecraft] NR settings at AD4C K3 now available at my website If you guys are interested to see how I have set my K3 serial 2192 for best performance of the newest FW 3.27 this is what you will have to do: 1-type www.ad4c.com 2-Once you have it opened click on the right green botton named Downloads 3-Once you are in the new page,click again on Downloads- 99 files 4-Now that you opened the long files directory click on the one that say Elecraft K3 49 files 5-Find the file that says AD4C K3- 63 files 6-And finally click on the zip that says 20M stn with and without the NR In that compressed file you will find an audio graph of the freq response of my K3 receiver with all the settings I do use,also you will find a word with the explanation of all the settings and finally there are six MP3 files showing the band noise,SSB stations and CW stations with and without the NR engaged. Hope this help you out to know your K3 better and enjoy as much as I am,73 to all and enjoy your weekend,73 AD4C The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits. -- Albert Einstein __ 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 __ 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 __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] NR settings at AD4C K3 now available at my website
David, Thanks for your input on this. I understood pretty much correctly, but appreciate your more complete explanation. By WAV, yes, I meant linear-coded whatever resolution. I think windoze Sound Recorder records files in this format. They're huge... As a function of my group's charter (at work), we sometimes run distortion analyses on MP3 vs WAV files for plain voice phrasing. They're used in turn-by-turn directions on vehicle navigation units. We'll run the WAV file on the X (ref) axis, and the MP3 on the y axis and snapshot different parts of the phrases with the display on short-term average. We've found differences of up to 10% distortion, though whether it sounds that way to a human ear I have no idea. I suppose it depends on the recording format of the MP3 (resolution again). A 12-bit sample looks the worst - easily naked eye visible. In practice, we use 16-bit sampling at 16 KHz for all non-Text To Speech pronuciations. This seems to work best and whatever distortion there is can't be heard by anyone I've tested. I was only questioning whether or not this would be a valid comparison, and it sounds like MP3 is probably OK for plain voice. Thanks for that answer. 73, matt W6NIA On Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:30:14 +0100, you wrote: Matt Zilmer wrote: Does anyone have more input on MP3 vs WAV? MP3 has a certain amount in common with noise reduction algorithms, although what is is trying to reduce is weak sounds so close to the signal that they won't be heard. With very good noise reduction it may completely blank noise that was only reduced by the noise reduction. Whether it is valid to test noise reduction with a human ear, after the signal has been MP3 coded, depends on whether or not you believe that MP3 only removes what cannot be heard, anyway. One should never use MP3 on signals that are going to be processed by something other than a human ear, and I'd personally be wary of using for any comparison of audio quality. By WAV I'm assuming you actually mean 16 bit linear audio, as WAV is a wrapper format that can wrap MP3. Unfortunately, in the same way that JPEG seems to be used for all images on the web, MP3 tends to be used for all sounds. Both make assumptions about the nature of the signal and human perception. (PNG is often the best format for screen shots, for example.) __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Beta Firmware Release -- MCU Revision 2.22
You have to use the 6 KHz filter for TX on ESSB. You're TX is probably restricted on audio bandwidth with the 2.7 filter. From hfnotes.rtf for 2.23: * ESSB (EXTENDED SINGLE SIDEBAND) ADDED: Allows the K3 to transmit in SSB modes at a bandwidth of up to about 4 kHz. Requires a 6 kHz crystal filter on the RF board. To use ESSB: (1) Make sure the 6 kHz filter is configured correctly for AM transmit; switch to AM mode, then specify this filter using CONFIG:FLTX AM. (2) Locate CONFIG:TX ESSB. Select the desired extended bandwidth for SSB ransmit (3.0 to 4.0 kHz) using VFO A. Then tap1 on the keypad to turn ESSB on/off. When on, the + icon in the mode area will turn on. 73, matt, W6NIA On Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:15:47 +0100, you wrote: Hi all, Out of interest I thought I would try the new feature. I only have the 2.7kHz filter but people noticed the difference when I swtched. I did however get a ERR TXF message when I switch it on and TX. it transmits OK but gives the message. Anyone else seeing this? 73 Ian ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K3 - RF board: Q2 leakage
Hi Don, A few K3 firmware revs ago, after I updated the radio, I noticed some strange power on behavior. I was in touch with Wayne at the time on another subject, and he indicated these symptoms indicate a high leakage on Q2 - RF board. Symptoms: Rapid-firing the Power switch only lights up the LCD backlight. If one cycles the external power supply between K3 power cycles, this doesn't happen. If I can get the K3 to sequence power up normally, there is a _loud_ period of audio that sounds muffled, like it's on the wrong filter setting or there is something going on with the RX EQ. After the strange audio disappears, things seem to go normally. I never noticed these symptoms before, so I though there was some change in the new firmware I loaded. Wayne thought otherwise, and suggested that the symptom indicated Q2 had excess leakage. Power supply below is set at 13.8VDC. DVM time: K3 power off, with external power applied - Q2-G - 13.3V Q2-D - 0.097V K3 power on - Q2-G: 6.66V Q2-D: 13.3V So far so good. But watching Q2-D while powering down, it takes between 2 and 4 seconds for that net to drop from full voltage output to about 0.5V. Wayne had said that high leakage would be indicated by a slow retreat of the drain voltage from full output to about 0.5V. On the other hand, I don't know if the 0.1V that shows at Q2-D while the K3 is powered off is right or not. That would indicate a static leakage value to me. I think it should be *a lot* closer to 0V. I have a replacement Q2 here, but don't want to operate on the radio unless it's really necessary. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks, Matt Zilmer, W6NIA K3 #24 K2 #2810 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] SDR-1000 (original release) for sale
For Sale SDR-1000 - the original 1-Watt exciter version. Assembled and working, but the TX is weak and may need work. I've added a cooling fan and a little ducting to direct it. Please reply off list. This is a make an offer type of deal. 73 and Thanks, matt zilmer, W6NIA [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 filter problems
All, The 400 Hz and 1 KHz filters are 8 pole. The offsets (should) be zero. matt On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:23:12 -0800, you wrote: Whenever you reduce the bandwidth, you restrict all the audio you hear to that bandwidth. Make the filter narrow enough, and the only sound you hear will be one tone, and it won't go on and off any more than the tone of a bell does (i.e. it rings like crazy). There is no magic solution to that - restrict the bandwidth and you stretch the dits and dahs of CW out over time. It's all a matter of filter sharpness or Q. Okay, with that background (forgive me if it's very old news to you, Jim), 1 kHz isn't very narrow. So what could be producing a narrower bandwidth? My first thought is that you're crystal filter (the roofing filter) is not centered on the DSP filter bandwidth, so the effective bandwidth is much narrower than 1 kHz. If you used the 5-pole filters, did you input the offsets for the 1K and 400 Hz filers correctly (including the minus sign ahead of the offset)? If not, you might have just part of the filter bandpass reaching the DSP, producing a total bandpass only a fraction of 1 kHz. Ron AC7AC From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jim Hoge Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2008 2:40 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 filter problems Greetings, I seem to have a problem with either how I set up my K3 or with the filters. When first built the radio, I had only the stock 2.7 filter in it. I noticed that the receive audio began to ring and sound hollow when the bandwidth was reduced to about 1K. I now have the 1K filter in position 3 and the 400Hz filter in position 4. (I may add a narrow phone filter in the future in position 2.) Filter widths are configured at 1K and 400 respectively. All filters are enabled for both cw and digital. I note that the filter in use does coincide with selected bandwidth but again, as I narrow down to 1K or tighter, the received sound is still hollow and ringy. BTW, only the 400 Hz filter has gain added in the configure menu to offset its loss. Have I done something wrong? Tnx, Jim W5QM #1816 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3AFMDKT Doc
If you're using a downrev Acrobat reader, you may get this message with docs created with newer revs. Acrobat 8.1.3 is current. http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=10platform=Windows matt On Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:47:25 +, you wrote: Gil, do you mean this pdf document? http://www.elecraft.com/K3/mods/K3%20AF%20Stage%20Upgrade%20Instructions%20Rev%20A.pdf It opens fine for me... 73 Dave, G4AON K3/100 #80 - I am unable to open this doc. Receive message file is damaged cannot be repaired. Any one else having this problem? Can open other docs on same page where K3AFMDKT is shown Thank you Gil K8EAG ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 and CQWW
Perhaps we should all use a K3 then we could squeeze more stations into the available bandwidth... I think you might be able to get the principals at Elecraft to sign up to this idea. If I am bothering YOU, but you are not bothering ME - than that is clearly YOUR problem. Well, it's a known issue. It goes two ways, too. I have a neighbor that runs all gain controls fully clockwise, to the point that he takes up half of 80m with splatter. This renders the K3 deaf, because there is serious on-frequency signal. If I could just get this guy to understand that he's supposed to keep his RF energy on frequency, and could explain that using reasonable gain settings is one way to accomplish this the problem would go away. or am I just being bolshy?? No - I've come across the same complaint from others. The K3 remakes how the world will use HF radio. In between takes on a whole new meaning. 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 Tom GM4FDM GM0ELP wrote: Hi All, I was active as MM3T at the weekend with K3 #1293 and K2 #4688, Acom 1000, Doublet 160/80, 1/4 GP 40 and Cobweb 20,15 and 10m. The last 3 CQWW CW I've been using an FT1000MP MkV with inrad 4K roof filter (fully loaded) so was keen to give the K3 the try for the first time. My K3 has 400/1k roofing filters installed. It needed the 400 engaged on all but 15 and 10m which were quiet here in GM and so the 1k came in to good use. I had intended to use Dual PB but forgot all about it. I had one problem with the K3 on top band when the rx went quiet and tx power disappeared in a kind of intermittent way just after transmitting. It took me a while to realise it wasn't the tuner/coax/LPF/Linear connections and seemed to be located in the back panel audio connections area. Putting my hand down the back of the transceiver and giving the connections a wiggle seemed to bring the radio back to life. At one stage I power cycled the K3 and got an ERR PLL message or something on the display. This only happened when I was on top band. I used fast AGC with AGC threshold 5 and AGC slope 10 for high bands and 8/8 for low bands respectively. I changed these settings a number of times during the contest and ended up with several favourites dependant on band/noise. I was raising the threshold in line with rising noise levels and adjusting the slope downward when dealing with pile ups which helped my brain separate the callers by adding sound level difference. Using the PF1 and PF2 keys for threshold and slope worked a treat. I had been using a K1EL keyer with the MkV in the past and decided to simplify things this year with the K3 by using DTR-RTS for key-ptt. This coupled with WinTest contest software worked flawlessly (even with open wire feeder in the shack). I allowed condx to determine my sending speed, if things got hectic whilst running, my speed went up and when trying to bag a weak one on a noisy band my speed went down. I did miss the winkey variable pot when working slow stations, but just had to hope they had been listening to me enough to get the call right before calling. I get more angry with inefficient exchange (mindlessly repeating things like my call) rather than slow speed callers. The worst combo when working a pile up is a slow caller who thinks data type exchanges are the norm, as 9/10 times this one station will cause someone else to steal your frequency whilst you are waiting for his exchange to finish. The EU really is a zoo during CQWW CW and I've tried using lesser radios in the past and given in. I did 24hrs with the K3 and still love it despite the top band band failure. A fully loaded MkV is a hard act to follow, but I did spend $6000 (ROB) on it and then had to install an inrad roof and do key click mods to get it to work properly. Thanks to all who worked me! Doug GM0ELP (MM3T) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 New owner 2B Checklist
You should also consider the Heil Goldline mic for it. That is if you operate phone. 73, matt zilmer On Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:34:15 -0500, you wrote: To my initial question: I'm ordering the K3 100W kit and have a K9AY receiving antenna and will be using a Titan 425 amplifier with it. I have several power supplies I can use with one being the larger Heathkit 13.8 supply which works fine with my TenTec gear. I also have a TenTec power supply which matches with my Omni V. Are there any caveats or unexpected boondoggles I can expect to run into that I might get ready to resolve before it arrives? Jim K9YC was most helpful with my question on using the Titan 425 with the K3: I have three 425s, and have used them in contesting for years using this arrangement, which was a way of doing QSK with virtually any rig (the 425 was designed before 1980). You do NOT need to do this with the K3 -- the K3 has a built in TX delay (adjustable in CONFIG) so that the TX/RX relay in the amp has time to switch. So simply set the 425 in PTT mode and feed it the amp keying line from the K3. I'm conservative, so I set the delay for 12ms to give the relay plenty of time to switch. The default is 8ms. - And Mike AC5P offered the same kind of good suggestion: Gary, The one thing different about the K3 is the DC power input connector. This is an Anderson 30A Power Pole connector. I don´t know of any other ham gear that uses this type of connector. IMHO, it is superior to the Molex type plug/jacks that the others supply. They supply one (and one only) connector and 6 ft of #12 DC zip cord. Most hams don´t have the special crimp tool, so you will have to solder the pins correctly positioned THE FIRST TIME to make it up. - As to the Amp, I'll be sure to read up on how to find the delay in config. Last time I modified anything with config was back with windoze 95 :) I'm sure that config / setup will be something I will be using a fair amount at first probably when I update and the like. As to the Power Pole connector, this will be my introduction to them, never seen one before. Thus far I've been a dinosaur when it comes to new ham gear my newest anything is 20 years old till now with the exception of my K9AY sold by Array and my Ameritron coax switch. Wait, I do have a butternut I use for 40 up that was made in the mid 90's... :} Any other suggestions regarding a heads up perhaps regarding specialty assembly/test equipment I will need to be ready for the k3 100W kit? Thanks for the help! 73, Gary KA1J ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 owners
Hello to all K3 owners. I would like your opinions of the K3 if you have the time to post. Hey - who has the time with such a great rig sitting in front of him? I have never had an Elecraft before, but I am thinking of a K3 for portable use. My Ten-Tec Argo is just a little short on power for my dx vacations and it's a little hard to separate the folks in the cw pileups. I've used the K3 as a portable. It's a bit large for hiking, etc. but isn't heavy (8 lbs or so). You'd want to protect it from getting banged up, and because of its size (4 x 10 x 10 approx) this might be difficult. But could be done. I built a special case for the radio and took it to the local mountains (Mount Baldy Village area in SoCal) and operated it from 6500' MSL. Got surprisingly good results on CW using 10W and a 400 foot sloper. Even worked a couple new countries At the bottom of the sunspot cycle. Operated it on my car battery. The technical specs look great, but I am concerned about ergonomics. For example, is the tuning knob weighted? Does it spin well? Can you adjust the drag on the knob? The tuning knob has enough inertia to turn 12 times or so with a light touch, maybe 30 times with a little more wrist action. This would be pretty loose for most, but I like a light touch. You can adjust the knob friction, and there are good instructions for setting it. How is the readability on the display? It is excellent. You adjust both the backlight and display separately. I think there are 8 steps or so for each. Can you change the display backlight color? No. It's amber though. No color-blindness issues with that color, or not many. Overall, how satisfied are you with the ergonomics? What would you like to change? The operation of the radio is primarily geared towards right-handed people. I'm ambidextrous, but a lefty might find himself a little clumsy at first. The main settings that are on/off and most useful are right-hand thmb operated. Keypad is on the right (finger operated usually). I find the layout of the K3 more easily memorized than the K2. With something like this, YMMV. Best to check it out first-hand, so to speak. Here's your chance to sound off if you want and I appreciate you sharing your experience. I'd recommend that you go to a hamfest and take a try on the K3 yourself. Many of the early production run types did that. I got lucky and saw it at SW Convention in Torrance [after I ordered mine] this last year, but hadn't see one before face-to-face. I didn't get any real time on a K3 until mine arrived and I built it up. I have a lot of personal faith in Elecraft that wouldn't necessarily extend to every one of their customers. Don't let all of the squirming over delivery on this list bother you too much. These guys have been waiting awhile, and they're early adopters. They *like* new stuff, especially the best. All the specs on this radio can't do it justice. Take a chance. I can only guarantee that you will not be sorry. Good luck, matt - WA6EGJ K3 s/n 24 Thanks and 73, ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
