Re: [Elecraft] K3s and DEMI transverter

Previous to 2010, I was using a FT-847 for 50,144,432 MHz and a DEMI on 1296 with 144 IF. That was the year I bought my K3-10* (since updated with new synth).  I bought DEMI 144-28, 222-28, 432-28* and 1296-28 transverters as better design filtered LO better making 28-MHz a good choice for

Re: [Elecraft] Heil Pro 7 headset with KX3 - RF feedback?

ssues? I was hoping the K4 would have BT audio, but it doesn't.? So the next best option would be to send the sound card audio to BT in a computer, linked to the aids or headset...? I don't have my K4 yet, so it's a guess. 73, Rick NK7I On 6/18/2021 11:58 AM, Jim Brown wrote: On 6/18/2021 11:34 AM

Re: [Elecraft] New K3 user... Can't figure out how to set up, and use sub receiver

When I first set up for digital modes on my K3 (probably in 2010) when I long-pressed DATA MD and rotated VFO-B to select DATA-A it came up in LSB instead of USB.  I was on 28-MHz so SSB ran USB, but not DATA.  I do not recall exactly, but I forced it to USB (I think using the MODE button). 

Re: [Elecraft] Heil Pro 7 headset with KX3 - RF feedback?

Here we go again:  "The favorite headset topic". Most of you who have been on this list a few years might recall when I tried out a Yamaha CM500 headset.  I wear hearing aids and the CM500 immediately set up a loud howl the minute I put them on (even with not being plugged into the radio). 

[Elecraft] Fun on 14.074 today

Well it started out troubleshooting why I had bad SWR with the new 20m dipole I put up.  And (of course) it was the RG-58 coax jumper I had used for umpteen years without trouble.  So realizing that my broken tri-band yagi might not be broken, I tried 20m and it tuned up nice with my

[Elecraft] Ferrite Torroid RF filters

I used a F140-43 torroid with three turns to filter switching noise from my HP 226519-001 "blade" 50v 50A PS: 6m_control_panel_back_3.jpg (825×619) (kl7uw.com) used clamp-on ferrite filters on the 240vac hot wires. So when I obtained a new

Re: [Elecraft] Power supply for KX3

I would just keep the Astron-35 (I bought one in 1980 and still works). But I upgraded to a Astron-50M years ago and it supplies the entire shack (fused at 30A). I also use a 28v Astron for supplying 24v devices. But Astron makes 8A and 10A switching supplies (we started swapping them out

[Elecraft] K3 NB Info

I'm trying to use the DSP NB on local noise to improve my 6m reception of very weak signals (i.e. eme signals). There are three ranges of DSP NB T-1, T-2, and T-3 with level settings of 1 to 7. The levels are self explanatory, but have found no description about the three ranges

Re: [Elecraft] ?ELECRAFT NVIS field day?

Thanks to Bill Parsons-AF6AE for the tip on the QST December-2005 article. Pulled it out and scanned it over (will read more thoroughly later) but interestingly showed how 80/40m coverage varied by time of day (which was demonstrated real-time in the 1980's on the Iditarod trail working into

Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Wire

Well Rich, Guess you are a late comer. I got my ham license at age 14 and I am now 77. I've been married 18 years. She was married to ham before me, so had been "broke-in" before getting "saddled" with me (western sayin). That was the good news and the bad news. When she arrived north

[Elecraft] K3/10 connected to KXPA100/KXTA100

Operation of the the KXPA100 with its tuner works great with my KX3 using the KXUSB cable (particularly nice when KX3 is mounted on my truck dash and amp is under the back seat. But I also use the amp/tuner with my K3/10 (low power version) which has no KXUSB jack. I just connect PTT to the

[Elecraft] PR6-10 Tests

I imagine there are many who have the PR6 or PR6-10 for their K3. Recently I had to replace the PGA-103 in mine so took the time to measure NF and gain at 50-MHz. NF = 0.78 dB Gain = 21.15 dB Voltage at input leg=0.6v Voltage at output leg=2.5v 80ma at 13.5vdc That's pretty good with

Re: [Elecraft] Output power being eaten

There are situations when running a driver at it full output is desirable. Or when running at very low output is not as stable. Two examples: I have a 6-dB 30w attenuator on the input of my 2m 1500w LDMOS Amp (MRF1K50H) which ensures that my 25w transverter will not overdrive the amp. The

Re: [Elecraft] ?ELECRAFT NVIS field day?

Just a comment on low dipoles: On the Iditarod Dog Sled Race (Alaska) we had ham stations located in remote located checkpoints (total bush-no telephone or other utilities). We used 80m and 40m to communicate with race HQ in Anchorage over paths of a couple hundred miles to 600 miles, or so.

Re: [Elecraft] Need K3 Board

My KI03 board failed in 2020 and I was lucky to get it repaired by Elecraft (though it took months due to Covus issues). I blew up a ferrite cube and IC so decided to have them do the repair since the IC leads were high density and I didn't trust being able to desolder without damage to the

[Elecraft] Common Mode chokes to reduce noise

I primarily work eme so band noise is a prime enemy of weak signals. I was reading the comments about combating mic noise and wondered if adding some ferrite beads to my 6m coax at the shack would have any effect on received broad-band noise. I definitely see the noise peak in one direction

Re: [Elecraft] Common Mode chokes to reduce noise

OK, kind of what I was thinking. So either go on search for noise source or try reducing the noise at the receiver. K3 NB does not improve SNR on 6m. On HF noise varies: 80m its S7 from an inverted-V; on 20m its S3 from a yagi (both have baluns). 6m noise at S5-S7 is the most troublesome

Re: [Elecraft] feeding a half-wave dipole with ladder line

Bob, Either you did not read what I wrote carefully enough, or I did a poor job of explaining. First off: I an not a HF DX chaser or HF Contest junkie. HF is a very occasional activity when I want a casual chat or check in a local net. Thus a compromise antenna for the "low bands". The

[Elecraft] feeding a half-wave dipole with ladder line

I am redesigning my 40/80/160/630m antennas. A year ago the tower I was supporting my 630m Invert-L was damaged by wind and taken down. Replacement tower is shorter so not suitable end wire support for HF antenna. I decided to repurpose my 80/40m dual dipole into a based-loaded 40-foot

Re: [Elecraft] On ground - in ground radials

I used three radials (70-foot long) made of 2-foot wide chicken wire (think its galvanized steel) on my 600m inverted-L. Fourth radial was the shield of my 1-5/8 inch diameter Heliax line that ran 120-feet from the supporting tower to the shack in our house. I ran a circle of bare No. 12

Re: [Elecraft] D-104 Mic Element Replacement

I remember the D104's from my early years in Ham radio. I never had a mic for my DX35 in the late 1950's and acquired a carbon mic with the old AN-ARC-1 VHF AM radio I bought for 2m AM as a Tech. I upgraded to a Johnson 6N2 after college so bought a new Electro-voice mic that had cardiode

Re: [Elecraft] K3 drive level for Q5 Signal 432 Transverter

Tried what you suggested Gary. No joy. The upper limit with the PWR knob remains at 0.8MW. I can adjust downward but not upward. Need to get a good power meter on it and see what the actual output is. And, I?ll try the low-level power calibration process and see what happens. Thanks

Re: [Elecraft] TCXO

To add a little to what Lance-W7GJ said: Every K3 has a TCXO. Standard is the TCXO-01 with 5ppm stability which fine if you only run CW/SSB/AM/FM. TCXO stands for Temperature Controled Xtal Oscillator. I provides the frequency standard for the K3 synthesizers to lock to. 5ppm translates as

Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Digest, Vol 215, Issue 15

Thanks Bob, My late night calculating in my head was off by factor of ten 5ppm at 10-MHz is +/- 50Hz and at 30-MHz 150-Hz And I forgot that the TCXO-03 actually performed at 0.5ppm so one got ten times better stability suing the TCXO-03. I reviewed my actual notes for testing with the

Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 wattmeter adjustment

I would guess most RF power meters are lucky to be within 5% accuracy of full scale. As a comm tech in the 2-way commercial industry, the Bird43 is pretty much a standard field instrument for measuring power and reflected power (to check SWR on cables, antennas, filters, etc.). If you want

Re: [Elecraft] [OT] Loss in window line [OPINION] [LONG]

Good discussion as I was thinking to use window line in my new 630m - 40m antenna. Maybe revert to running parallel lines spaced 1-foot with spreaders only at top and bottom of 40-foot vertical run. I did that with my previous inverted-L with no weather related issues. Impedance did shift

Re: [Elecraft] Shipping via UPS - A Lesson Learned the Hard Way

Most be glad you are not shipping in/out of AK. UPS/FedEx rates are double (or more) than USPS. If it will fit a USPS Flat-rate box that is even less. That is for 3-day delivery which can take up to five days. UPS/Fedex 2-day is also 3-days (because delivery is to the Anchorage Int'l

[Elecraft] Using MFJ-1026 Noise Canceller on 6m-eme

Diagram of final configuration: http://www.kl7uw.com/6M_NOISE_CANCEL.jpg This a basic phasing unit to reduce band noise on HF bands. But first I tried it on 6m where no null was achieved. Next I configured to use the 1st IF output of my dual-Rx Elecraft K3 running in Diversity mode which

[Elecraft] Fwd: K2 Band Data

wrong link: https://www.unifiedmicro.com/ apparently marketed by DXEngineering Forwarded Message Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 Band Data Date: Fri, 1 Sep 2023 12:29:42 -0800 From: Ed Cole To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Not help for the K2 band data, but thought there might

Re: [Elecraft] K2 Band Data

Not help for the K2 band data, but thought there might be interest in how I am interfacing my K3/10 band data to a 1.2 kW W6PQL amp LP filter bank: http://www.kl7uw.com/HF-6M_AMP.jpg Unified Microsystems makes an interface: www.microsystems.com/decoder.html 73, Ed - KL7UW

Re: [Elecraft] Astron RS-35M Hum

Glad to hear of the fix! My Astron 50M rack-mount vibrates and hums at times, but I cures with mechanical lifting the unsupported back. I will install rack rails when I move to the new hamshack (in a couple weeks). I have an old GE MASTR-II repeater PS that hums at startup but tapers off

Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Service

Boy, a lot of comments on this topic. I'll try to brief: I bought my K3/10 in 2010. My primary use was for eme using transverters so I did not need 100w version. I did buy the KXV3 and TCXO-03, EXREF, and KRX3. Decided on the 8-pole filters (13, 2.8, 0.400 MHz in the main Rx and 2.8 in

Re: [Elecraft] Receiver impedance?

Most of you are HF operators; translation: you receive strong signals. But if you design VHF/UHF/mw preamps, achieving low Noise figure (NF) is desired. Advanced receiver designers are aware lowest NF does not occur at low-Z (eg. 50-ohms). Input Z is lowest in NF at Z near 200-ohms (varies

Re: [Elecraft] PayPal holding payment. (Follow up)

I ran a business making kits and used PayPal with no issues (probably over 100 transactions). Even used PayPal credit to purchase a IC-9700, with no issues. I have an excellent credit rating. If you want to check someone's transaction quality, E-Bay collects buyer/seller ratings. Mine is

Re: [Elecraft] Antenna Quandary

Unbelievable answers (really). If someone asked if anyone was knowledgeable about contesting or say eme, would you just answer yes or no? Or would you offer assistance to the questioner? My first ham antenna was a folded dipole for 40m. It was described in my first ARRL Handbook as there

Re: [Elecraft] The RIGHT way is to adjust COMP

From: Bob McGraw nd.net> Start with COMP at 0, adjust the MIC gain while speaking normal voice to attain 5 to 6 bars {no more} as indicated on the ALC meter.? Then adjust the COMP for a value to indicate about 10 on voice peaks. For those that believe in using the "I turned it up a little

Re: [Elecraft] Field Day and FT-8

Ham radio is a TECHNICAL hobby. We are required to pass an exam demonstrating that we understand the underlying principles, our privileges are based on our having that understanding, and it is our LAWFUL responsibility to transmit clean signals. A major problem is that many hams have never

Re: [Elecraft] Ham Qualifications, Customer Service

I bought my K3/10 in 2010 (SN 4340). Didn't realize that was only two years after launch of the radio "We started selling the K3 in early 2008-per Wayne". radio has performed well over the last 12 years. Only one failure of the KIO3A board which I opted to have Elecraft repair (two months

Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

Slight drop (10%) in output with warming is normal for most solid-state amps. Having fans run full speed might counter that, slightly. Drop from 1500 to 1350 is 0.5 dB in signal (which is likely only noticeable if you are running a marginal propagation path (like eme). In fact that is not

Re: [Elecraft] KX3 and Heatsink

I added a heat sink to my KX3 a few years ago since I use it with long "key-down" digital modes such as wsjt-x (primarily on 6m). I obtained the heat sink from VE7FMN and it installed easily. Later Elecraft came out with its version which I bought (but have not installed). Being a thin

Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

Disclaimer: OK the title is about the KPA1500; Elecraft advice probably extends to all their amps. KL7UW *** "You should be running fans full-speed under those conditions if you want it to live long! " Please share any data you have that supports any claim than running continuous full fan

Re: [Elecraft] switchbox KX3 to signalink/mike+headphones

I made something similar: I wanted to breakout the mic PTT line from my IC9700 to control a sequencer (which was already wired to control preamps, TR relays and amplifier PTT's). I found 8-pin connectors on Amazon that would mate to the IC9700 mic jack, used RG-174 for shielded cable for the

Re: [Elecraft] Ham Qualifications, Customer Service

On 6/29/2022 9:39 AM, Ed Cole wrote: > Note on SSB compression, I've run at 20 with no complaints of distortion > or splatter. Dial readout is the WRONG way to set compression -- it's meaningless. The RIGHT way is to adjust COMP for a METER reading of 10 dB on voice peaks. 73, Jim K9

Re: [Elecraft] Using MFJ-1026 Noise Canceller on 6m-eme

was radiating from the powerlines right in front of my house with a broad azimuth, I could not do too well. 73, Chet, N8RA -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Lyn Norstad Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2022 5:12 PM To: 'Ed Cole' ; magic...@groups.io Cc

Re: [Elecraft] K3/K3S Options Last time buy update

Thanks for the update, Eric. I hadn't gotten the the order list, when offered, but recent chatter on this list prompted to write to get me added on wait list (which I received confirmation from sales). I've had only one failure, the KI03A, which was repaired by Elecraft two years ago. I

Re: [Elecraft] KX3 Option Advice Wanted

I ordered the "kit" version when the first one's were offered (sn 475). I got everything except paddle (not a CW operator) or the battery charger (use either external battery or use it mobile/in shack). I did get the 2m module as 144 is IF of my mw transverters (1w drive level) where SSB is

Re: [Elecraft] Any progress on K3 modules?

Howard-WA4PSC. and all: Just had a personal experience that show this: I ordered 15 ferrite beads in an order to Digi-Key on April-18, this year. They were back-ordered an I received notice they are shipping them, today! Only a four month delay. Good thing I hadn't started on that 1200w

Re: [Elecraft] Lighting

Another anecdote: Summer of 1981 I was working for the BLM Alaska Wildfire Center in Fairbanks as a radio tech. That summer a Class-A fire started near the town of Livengood and only three miles away from the Alaska Pipeline that brings crude oil from the north shore down to Valdez. There

Re: [Elecraft] Any progress on K3 modules?

Group 3: KXV3B, KBPF3A, P3TX Monitor, KAT3A:, KPA3A, 10-14 weeks --- Rough calculation from May 1 to August 20 is 15 weeks, so if parts arrived as was predicted in May, these should be in production. I'm on the waiting list for a KXV3B. After all the discussion on the

[Elecraft] K3 has ticking sound

I thought this might be of interest: I use my K3 for digital modes which requires a USB/RS232 conversion cable. A couple years ago my FTDI cable quit working and also one I bought locally would not work. I had a Western Mountain Nomic soundcard which came with a Prolific cable, so I tried

Re: [Elecraft] K3 & K3S Options Last Time Buy Update, (12/02/2022)

Nice to hear about. I contacted sales@elecraft regarding getting on the KI03B list (more than a year ago) and was told, at that time I would be added. I have the KI03A (original with my K3) which Elecraft repaired about two years ago and has worked well, so far. I decided I should have a

Re: [Elecraft] Two-meter Radio Needed

I have had several 2m radios (HT's and mobiles). to be equivalent to a 706 you are looking for an all-mode (usually mobile or desk model). I have had the IC-211 (pretty much obsolete, now days), FT-847, FT-736R, and my K3 + DEMI transverters. The K3+DEMI is pretty much dedicated to eme use

Re: [Elecraft] K3 & K3S Options Last Time Buy Update,, (12/02/2022

Well, I found the cause of the clicking (but not what is clicking). I use two almost identical computers (DELL Inspiron desk tops). One is for general Internet use, e-mail, etc. the other is dedicated to ham radio sw. The K3 is connected to the later one. So I decided to try a different

Re: [Elecraft] Yamaha Headphone

I can see this has really drifted off topic. MY first phone radio (1960) was a WWII surplus ARC-1 that a ham friend modified to 144-MHz for AM. Ran 20w with 820's. The hand mic was certainly a carbon mic. First mic I bought for ham radio, I splurged and got an EV-664 Cardioid dynmaic. It

Re: [Elecraft] Running high power

I only have one RFI issue with my K3+KXPA100: running 80w on 50.125 SSB. Seems my wife has her portable radio tuned to 100.1 MHz FM in the next room. 50.125 x2 = 100.25 "ouch"! Antenna is 20-foot high on tower attached to end of the house. Guess I need a "good" harmonic filter. I had one

Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Voltage?

PS: Only the mains line is aluminum and connections treated with antioxidant paste. All new wiring in the new hamshack is copper (12-2 for 120vac and 10-3 for 240vac). The 3000w Meanwell 50v PS is served with a short 10-3 line to a 30A twist-lock receptacle in a floor mounted utility box

Re: [Elecraft] Diversity

One VERY IMPORTANT reason I chose the K3 with sub Rx was the fact the two receivers were in coherent phase, whereas Flex radio had two Rx but not in total phase. I think diversity is tossed around as a loosely defined process. In 2012 when I wanted a dual-Rx radio to process dual-polarity

Re: [Elecraft] K4 recommendation - wait for HD or no?

On the subject of two radios operating in close proximity: I have a K3/10 (12w version) that I use with a KXPA-100 on 6m or HF. I have noted the noise level of the K3 S-meter rise about one s-unit when I transmit on 2m with the IC-9700 + 100w TE amplifier into a high-gain 2m vertical about

Re: [Elecraft] Recommendation for Microphone for K3s?

I also bought the Antlion Modmic. Previously, tried the CM500 and they caused my hearing aids to "howl" in feedback (not even connected to a radio). The Modmic uses a tiny earth magnet that attaches to my revered old Sony stereo headset. The mic boom clicks to the magnet securely. I

Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Voltage?

On the general subject of house wiring, loads, and resulting voltage: I am wiring my new hamshack with 240vac mains extension from the house. I selected three No. 2 awg aluminum lines (copper not commonly used these days). These are approx 1/4-inch diameter. That is rated for 90A (in

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

Couple comments: Vertical radials: I put up a top-loaded (very) short vertical for 630m (475-KHz). Top "hat" was two parallel 130-foot horizontal wires and vertical was three parallel wires 43-foot long (inverted-L). Used a BIG base loading coil but needed radials that normally would be

Re: [Elecraft] Starting to Ship K3 & K3S Option Last Time Buy, Orders (3/1/23)

*KIO3B & KSYN3A* - Now Shipping (finally!): We received *100%* of both items late last week from our Calif. PCB assembly subcontractor and we are testing, packaging and shipping them now. -- Once we finish the prepaid deposit orders, we'll be contacting our waitlist orders and going through

Re: [Elecraft] K3 no power out

A couple days ago I encountered that kind of issue: I had the K3 in DATA mode "looking at the psk-31 mode" and went to shift back to USB, but the XMIT/TUNE button yielded no output. Checked thru the list you provided and checked that I was in ANT1 output as I have run xvtr mode in the past.

Re: [Elecraft] Grounding, Lightning & Attic Antennas

Well...I'm blessed to live in a region with No* lightening activity, so generally have ignored doing all the preventative work. *We hear thunder about once every 4-5 years and see lightening even less often. But winter wind brings static build-up on exposed metal (antennas and wires) so

Re: [Elecraft] A Good Headset For A K3

i Normally use my Heil HM10 desk mic and ancient Sony MDR-V600 headphones. But several years ago investigated finding a headset with boom mic. The Yamaha cm500 howled in feedback when put on over my hearing aids (even not plugged into the K3). I ended up attaching an Antion ModMic to my old

Re: [Elecraft] A Good Headset For A K3

Just a couple more comments on the Antion ModMic: I plug into the rear mic jack on my K3 and the front jack of the KX3 using an adapter cable. The tiny boom mic has a foam cover for resisting wind-blast. Also has two settings: normal mic and cardiode pattern. On-air reports the normal

[Elecraft] KI03B order

KIO3BUPKT-WL_KIO3B Upgrade Kit for K3: Confirmed my order a couple days ago. Been a long wait but happy to finally que up to my name! Not sure if I will install or just hold as spare for my KI03A. 73, Ed - KL7UW I ordered several months after the order period closed.

[Elecraft] Re: Elecraft 80M SSB Net Report

Often read the reports from Elecraft Nets and kind of wondered what the "usual" maximum range for stations on the 80m SSB Net? I'm in southcentral AK so do not expect to ever hear the net which appears centered on MI (I was K8MWA 1958-1968 in MI). Late night 80m prop often brings in West

[Elecraft] Re Elecraft 20M SSB Net

Eric, WB9JNZ, was off in Norway so Brian, K1NW, stood in as net control with relays John, N6JW, and Steve, WM6P. Odd propagation and heavy QSB. The net will meet again next Sunday at 1800Z on 14.3035 MHz. Comment: been a long time

Re: [Elecraft] Re Elecraft 20M SSB Net

Listened 4/14 on 14.303.5 at 1800utc and heard no one. No propagation. 73, Ed - KL7UW K3 + KXPA100 + Hygain Th3mk4 at 50-foot __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: