Elecraft

ALC knob control missing on my K3

Classic

List

Threaded

11 messages Options

Bob KD7YZ

ALC knob control missing on my K3

So I was following some really great help from Don re ALC on my SSPA
....and I didn't get back to using the K3 .. was Sats on the Icom.

Anyway, I finished 1200 feet of random wire accross 80 90 foot tree
tops. I decoded a CN2 on 80 at 1700 local. pretty good

but then I try xmit and when I press the Mic/Speed button I see VOX and
no way to tickle the 4 to 5 bars.

So, uh, what'd I do?
80

--
73
Bob KD7YZ
AMSAT LM #901

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Nr4c

Re: ALC knob control missing on my K3

Tap the knob to switch between Speed and Mic Gain. I think VOX is a hold function.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Mar 26, 2019, at 7:32 PM, Bob KD7YZ <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> So I was following some really great help from Don re ALC on my SSPA
> .....and I didn't get back to using the K3 .. was Sats on the Icom.
>
> Anyway, I finished 1200 feet of random wire accross 80 90 foot tree
> tops. I decoded a CN2 on 80 at 1700 local. pretty good
>
> but then I try xmit and when I press the Mic/Speed button I see VOX and
> no way to tickle the 4 to 5 bars.
>
> So, uh, what'd I do?
> 80
>
> --
> 73
> Bob KD7YZ
> AMSAT LM #901
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> So I was following some really great help from Don re ALC on my SSPA
> ....and I didn't get back to using the K3 .. was Sats on the Icom.
>
> Anyway, I finished 1200 feet of random wire accross 80 90 foot tree
> tops. I decoded a CN2 on 80 at 1700 local. pretty good
>
> but then I try xmit and when I press the Mic/Speed button I see VOX and
> no way to tickle the 4 to 5 bars.
>
> So, uh, what'd I do?
> 80
>
> --
> 73
> Bob KD7YZ
> AMSAT LM #901
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> 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:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Bob KD7YZ

Re: ALC knob control missing on my K3

On 3/26/2019 23:02, Nr4c wrote:
> Tap the knob to switch between Speed and Mic Gain. I think VOX is a hold function.

tnx Bill.

Tapp or push, all I see are Mic/
--
73
Bob KD7YZ
AMSAT LM #901

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Richard Ferch-2

Re: ALC knob control missing on my K3

In reply to this post by Bob KD7YZ

You didn't say so, but the "4 to 5 bars" phrase makes it sound as if you
are trying to use a digital mode. If so, what mode is the rig in? It should
be in DATA A. If you don't like the default filter setting in DATA A, use
the SHIFT/WIDTH (or HI/LO CUT) filter controls to set the filter bandwidth
where you want it (that will only affect data modes, not voice or CW modes).

Now look at the MAIN:MIC SEL setting. It should be on LINE IN. If (and only
if) MIC SEL is set to LINE IN, rotating (not pressing) the MIC gain control
should display LINE xx (where xx changes as you rotate the knob). Adjust
this control, and/or the sound card output level, to get the 4-5 bars
indication on the ALC meter. The MIC SEL setting and gain settings are
stored separately in digital vs. phone modes, so making changes while in
DATA A will have no effect on your mic gain settings for phone modes.

There is no ALC knob. Within the K3, you adjust the audio input level to
get the required reading on the ALC meter. Between the K3 and an external
amplifier, the amplifier generates the ALC signal; it's an input on the K3,
not an output, and it should only be used to protect against overdrive, not
to adjust the net output power. To adjust the power with or without an
external amplifier, use the PWR control.

73,
Rich VE3KI

KD7YZ wrote:

but then I try xmit and when I press the Mic/Speed button I see VOX and no
way to tickle the 4 to 5 bars.
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Bob KD7YZ

Re: ALC knob control missing on my K3

On 3/27/2019 08:02, Richard Ferch wrote:

> There is no ALC knob. Within the K3,

My bad to paraphrase it that way

"Line"

It was the way I dickered with the apparent ALC "BARS"

Now I can't get a TAP push or shove to say Line"

FT8 Data-A as usual

I am not concerned about the ancillary issue of number of bars as I was
curious just what Config setting I changed to cause Line to go away

--
73
Bob KD7YZ
AMSAT LM #901

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: ALC knob control missing on my K3

With the radio in Data A mode, tap MENU, scroll to MIC SEL shown in the
VFO B area, and then using the VFO knob scroll to Line In. Tap MENU to exit.

The SPEED/MIC knob should have the LED illuminated showing MIC. When you
turn the knob the VFO B area should show LINE xx where xx is the value
of Line Gain. Normally about 35 or so.

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 3/27/2019 5:50 PM, Bob KD7YZ wrote:

> On 3/27/2019 08:02, Richard Ferch wrote:
>
>> There is no ALC knob. Within the K3,
> My bad to paraphrase it that way
>
> "Line"
>
> It was the way I dickered with the apparent ALC "BARS"
>
> Now I can't get a TAP push or shove to say Line"
>
> FT8 Data-A as usual
>
> I am not concerned about the ancillary issue of number of bars as I was
> curious just what Config setting I changed to cause Line to go away
>
>
>
> --
> 73
> Bob KD7YZ
> AMSAT LM #901
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

Jim Brown-10

Re: ALC knob control missing on my K3

It's amazing the things you can learn simply by reading the manual.
It's the first thing I do with an new product.

73, Jim K9YC

On 3/27/2019 4:01 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
> With the radio in Data A mode, tap MENU, scroll to MIC SEL shown in
> the VFO B area, and then using the VFO knob scroll to Line In. Tap
> MENU to exit.
>
> The SPEED/MIC knob should have the LED illuminated showing MIC. When
> you turn the knob the VFO B area should show LINE xx where xx is the
> value of Line Gain. Normally about 35 or so.

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Rick WA6NHC-2

Re: ALC knob control missing on my K3

Heh, I'm the exact opposite. It's one of my evaluation test points that
if the device/software is truly user intuitive, friendly etc, the manual
become superfluous, rarely needed. But for picking out the nits and
finer subtle details these days, one must read because ultimately, they
matter.

Hurray for PDF and the search function! You can keep a van load of
'books' on your phones now.

Rick NHC

On 3/27/2019 4:11 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> It's amazing the things you can learn simply by reading the manual.
> It's the first thing I do with an new product.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Don Wilhelm

Re: ALC knob control missing on my K3

Rick,

Have you bought a new vehicle lately? My 2017 model (moving from a 2008
model) had more bells and whistles than I could imagine. The salesman
made an attempt at familiarizing me with the various functions, but the
mind became saturated during his demo, and I concentrated only on what
was necessary to drive it home!

I had to read the owner's manual to be able to deal properly with the
vehicle. So RTFM. All transceivers are not the same. What is OK for
some is not OK for others.

Case in point is the way the Elecraft transceivers control power. Other
amateur transceivers can control the power output in an open loop with
the amount of audio that is produced.
Elecraft transceivers control power output in a closed loop and must be
treated differently. The manual statement to adjust the audio for voice
operation for 5 to 7 bars on the ALC meter, and for soundcard digital
modes to set the audio for 4 bars solid and the 5th bar flashing must be
respected. The power output must be controlled by the POWER knob, and
not the audio level.

Read the manual - that information I gave above is not intuitive because
much internet advice and even the instructions for some of the
application software do not consider the Elecraft method of power output
control.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/27/2019 7:25 PM, Rick WA6NHC wrote:

> Heh, I'm the exact opposite. It's one of my evaluation test points that
> if the device/software is truly user intuitive, friendly etc, the manual
> become superfluous, rarely needed. But for picking out the nits and
> finer subtle details these days, one must read because ultimately, they
> matter.
>
> Hurray for PDF and the search function! You can keep a van load of
> 'books' on your phones now.
>
> Rick NHC
>
> On 3/27/2019 4:11 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
>> It's amazing the things you can learn simply by reading the manual.
>> It's the first thing I do with an new product.
>>

Rick WA6NHC-2

Re: ALC knob control missing on my K3

Hi Don,

Not lately, but I've rented (Camaro); not with ALL the foo foo items,
but it went WAY fast in a big hurry! That was kinda the point of that
choice, apply more foot; go more fast. While waiting for the passenger,
I ran through the dash menu, made the readout settings the way I wanted
them (synched to my phone for tunes) and it was pretty simple. But I'm
also used to that brand, GM, since I own a couple and have driven many
other brands (International, Kenworth, Dodge, Ford and others). Another
brand, should be as simple (presuming US English is used in the proper
form in the menu). Reprogramming a key fob, read the manual, there's
nothing intuitive about it (purposely more difficult I suspect for
security reasons).

You're correct of course, but... how many really take the time (to
read?) before they fire up any new rig? No, they get the new rig
itchies, connect an antenna, power it up and start fiddling about
(guilty!). Only when they find an issue ("Your audio is lousy!") do
they really dive in. For almost every other brand, that's sufficient;
not Elecraft (who does things better).

When I first built the K3, that's what I did, dove in... Only when I
caught my breath, did I take time to learn (and redo in a couple minor
items) the Elecraft way. That is a testament to the intuitive set up
(and the durability for some folks that push those limits) of the line.
In fairness, I scanned the manual while waiting for the kits to arrive,
I wasn't totally clueless. Scanned does not imply study, it means a
basic review; much is the same as most any other radio. Audio is one of
the few things that requires a little more depth than with other brands;
also power settings.

Fortunately, the layout, by design puts the typically (played with) user
items 'on the surface' and the ones that can really screw up what is
heard and sent, deeper in the menus; and many of those deeper items
still use the default settings. But once the initial rush is over, read
the manual; you'll get a deeper understanding of WHY you want things,
THIS way. So the jump in and drive isn't always 'wrong', just uninformed.

Reading the manual(s) (NOT the Internet) isn't fun, it isn't sexy but
you might learn something new.

The rest of my lighthearted jab was that many 'things' fail in the
simplicity test; they're not intuitive, they're often inverted reverse
backwards logic only on second Tuesdays with a half moon, if they have
any sense at all. I submit that the Baofeng HT programming from the
front panel is one example of lousy, not intuitive, user interface,even
the menu is often wrong (program via software, save your hair; I gave
mine away).

That is one example of an instant fail on my rating system. One
shouldn't need a PhD to operate a device or software of any kind at a
basic level, if the engineer did their job. Elecraft has; it's not a
challenge on most things; subtle points matter though.

Rick nhc

On 3/27/2019 4:50 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Rick,
>
> Have you bought a new vehicle lately? My 2017 model (moving from a
> 2008 model) had more bells and whistles than I could imagine. The
> salesman made an attempt at familiarizing me with the various
> functions, but the mind became saturated during his demo, and I
> concentrated only on what was necessary to drive it home!
>
> I had to read the owner's manual to be able to deal properly with the
> vehicle. So RTFM. All transceivers are not the same. What is OK
> for some is not OK for others.
>
> Case in point is the way the Elecraft transceivers control power.
> Other amateur transceivers can control the power output in an open
> loop with the amount of audio that is produced.
> Elecraft transceivers control power output in a closed loop and must
> be treated differently. The manual statement to adjust the audio for
> voice operation for 5 to 7 bars on the ALC meter, and for soundcard
> digital modes to set the audio for 4 bars solid and the 5th bar
> flashing must be respected. The power output must be controlled by
> the POWER knob, and not the audio level.
>
> Read the manual - that information I gave above is not intuitive
> because much internet advice and even the instructions for some of the
> application software do not consider the Elecraft method of power
> output control.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 3/27/2019 7:25 PM, Rick WA6NHC wrote:
>> Heh, I'm the exact opposite. It's one of my evaluation test points
>> that if the device/software is truly user intuitive, friendly etc,
>> the manual become superfluous, rarely needed. But for picking out
>> the nits and finer subtle details these days, one must read because
>> ultimately, they matter.
>>
>> Hurray for PDF and the search function! You can keep a van load of
>> 'books' on your phones now.
>>
>> Rick NHC
>>
>> On 3/27/2019 4:11 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
>>> It's amazing the things you can learn simply by reading the manual.
>>> It's the first thing I do with an new product.
>>>

Bob KD7YZ

Re: ALC knob control missing on my K3

In reply to this post by Bob McGraw - K4TAX

On 3/27/2019 19:01, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
> With the radio in Data A mode, tap MENU, scroll to MIC SEL

YES!!!

the definitive answer !!

Apparently, I had mistakenly changed that setting.

thank you very much for a succinct answer!

--
73
Bob KD7YZ
AMSAT LM #901

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html