Re: [Elecraft] Upgrading K3 s/n 11xx to operate on the 472KHz
I used my K3 on 495-502 KHz as an experimental station. I got 1mw output at the XVT Tx output jack running the TEST mode. For amplifier, I bought a surplus Southern Avionics NDB (aircraft Non Directional Beacon) transmitter. It is a xtal controlled oscillator amplified to 100w into 50-ohm load. 25w and 50w NDB's were also made. Check surplus electronic sales for them. I suspect the supply will be small and quickly disappear once discovered by new 630m hams. Using with the K3, I removed the oscillator ckts and used a 0.1 mfd disc ceramic cap to couple from coax to the bandpass filter (single slug-tuned coil which feeds a 2N pre-driver (about 10mw output). I disconnected the internal antenna loading coil and switched the multi-tapped output coupling coil to 50-ohms. You will need to build a base loading coil for using a very-short vertical antenna (if you have one for 160m, just substitute the loading coil). 630m is brand new ham radio country so prepared to design, modify, and build some of your equipment and antennas. Or wait a year or so as small mfr's will likely show up or start up providing gear. I should have approval by Oct. 15 to start on 472-479 KHz. I plan to use CW/psk31/FT8 as ham modes and run an APRS beacon on 471-KHz as WD2XSH/45 under the old ARRL Experimental License. Many of us are looking to run beacons around 471-KHz just outside the new 630m Ham Band (only legal if you hold an experimental license). 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Dubus-NA Business mail: dubus...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Upgrading K3 s/n 11xx to operate on the 472KHz
Jack, You will need the new synthesizer - two if you have the KRX3. You will also need the KBPF3A. If you already have a KBPF3, there is an upgrade kit that you can install - the KBPF3MDKT (see K3 Parts and Mod Kits). You will also need the KXV3 (or KXV3A or KXV3B) option in your K3 because the antenna must connect to the RX ANT IN or XVTR IN. Transmit is on the KXV3 XVTR OUT jack - you will need an amplifier because the output is low level (none sold by Elecraft). 73, Don W3FPR On 10/1/2017 6:58 PM, Jack Colson wrote: What needs to be upgraded or added to a stock K3 s/n 11xx to receive/transmit on 472KHz? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Upgrading K3 s/n 11xx to operate on the 472KHz
These seem to be popular from what I've been reading lately: http://www.monitorsensors.com/ham-radio/630m-transverter -- John AE5X https://ae5x.blogspot.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Upgrading K3 s/n 11xx to operate on the 472KHz
Jack, This should get you started. This is from the KSYN3A FAQ dated February 13, 2015. 8. What is required to use the 600-meter band?a. This band is available in some countries, often on an experimental basis. Specific restrictions may apply. A K3 fitted with a KSYN3A, as well as a KXV3 and KBPF3A, can receive signals on this band, and can put out about 1 milliwatt of transmit power. An external amplifier will be needed, connected to the XVTR OUT jack. At present we don't have information on such amplifiers. You can also get on this band using an upconversion transverter whose output is on a low HF band (also not presently supplied by Elecraft). For a general introduction to the 600-meter band, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/600-meter_amateur_radio_band 9. Can a transverter I.F. of "0" be defined as an alternative to setting CONFIG:KXV3 to TEST?a. Not at this time, though we hope to add this capability. Those who frequently alternate between TEST and NOR modes can assign the KXV3 menu entry to a programmable function switch, or write a switch macro to change this menu setting as well as set up the VFO, preamp, etc., for this band. *** Here is information provided by Wayne in an e-mail to the reflector on 9/16/2017: Here's some info to get you started on 630 meters with the K3S or K3. For receive purposes, either transceiver is fully self-contained. For transmit, you'll need an external amp of some kind. RECEIVE The K3S, or a modified K3, will receive on this band via the XVTR IN jack (or RX ANT IN). You'll need: - A KXV3 transverter interface module (standard with the K3S but optional for the K3) - A KBPF3A filter module, or a KBPF3 with a small mod (see KBPF3MDKT). The KBPF3A mod kit also comes with a capacitor to be installed on the K3's RF board to suppress LF noise. RX performance is quite good on 630 meters. Note: The XVTR IN and RX ANT IN jacks work on 630 meters (472 kHz) because both are post-TR switch. The TR switch has high-pass filtering that rolls off starting around 1 MHz, so you can't use ANT 1 or ANT 2. TRANSMIT You can get a transmit signal out on 630 meters using the XVTR OUT jack (same requirements as above). Our initial tests shows about 0.5 milliwatts. In this case you'd use XVTR IN for receive, not RX ANT IN. You'll then need an external amplifier. It could be keyed using the rig's KEY OUT jack. This signal could also be used to control a T/R switch if you needed to use the same antenna for both transmit and receive. If you use two different antennas, you'll still have to cut the RX antenna off during TX, most likely. Firmware configuration: To use XVTR IN and OUT on this band, set up the radio for 160 meters, then set the CONFIG:KXV3 menu entry to TEST. This is necessary because 160 meter isn't available as a transverter IF selection (yet). 73, Wayne N6KR Mark, WB9CIF -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jack Colson Sent: Sunday, October 1, 2017 10:59 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Upgrading K3 s/n 11xx to operate on the 472KHz What needs to be upgraded or added to a stock K3 s/n 11xx to receive/transmit on 472KHz? Thank you, 73, Jack, W3TMZ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to markmus...@sbcglobal.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Upgrading K3 s/n 11xx to operate on the 472KHz
What needs to be upgraded or added to a stock K3 s/n 11xx to receive/transmit on 472KHz? Thank you, 73, Jack, W3TMZ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
