ERR FW2

[aa4nc]

Operating the IARU contest and a previously solid K3 would cease putting out power, although it remained in transmit. After an hour of doing this intermittently, I started getting an ERR FW2. Power off/on would clear this. After another hour, I received a prompt on the front panel that mentioned something to the effect of "Use  K3 utlity program". After it locked up with the ERR FW2, I downloaded the latest utility and all new software - MCU 04.67, FPF 1.15, DSP1 2.81, DSP2 2.81.


It worked for an hour and I started receiving the ERR FW2 again.


Any ideas??

73/TNX,

Will AA4NC
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[aa4nc]

I followed that procedure (EE Initialization / restored configuration) with no change. I am using the latest 1.13.5.9 K3 utility software.

On SSB, now the radio will transmit about 5-10 seconds, then the power drops to zero and the monitored audio goes silent (although the transmit relay stays engaged). I am occasionally getting ERR FW2, and once I got a "New K3 UTIL software required" message on the front panel.

I tested the radio on CW, where it performs similarly. After transmitting about 5 seconds, it goes into a solid keydown (on the sidetone) / no power output / transmit relay locked / ERR FW2.

Anyone have any other ideas or is it time to ship it back to Elecraft?

Tnx,

Will




 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Ron D'Eau Claire <[hidden email]>
To: aa4nc <[hidden email]>; elecraft <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sat, Jul 13, 2013 4:36 pm
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] ERR FW2


Per the Owner's manual the next step after reinstalling firmware is to
reinitialize the parameters and reload your configuration file (pg 66 of the
manual).

73, Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of [hidden email]
Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2013 1:07 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] ERR FW2

Operating the IARU contest and a previously solid K3 would cease putting out
power, although it remained in transmit. After an hour of doing this
intermittently, I started getting an ERR FW2. Power off/on would clear this.
After another hour, I received a prompt on the front panel that mentioned
something to the effect of "Use  K3 utlity program". After it locked up with
the ERR FW2, I downloaded the latest utility and all new software - MCU
04.67, FPF 1.15, DSP1 2.81, DSP2 2.81.


It worked for an hour and I started receiving the ERR FW2 again.


Any ideas??

73/TNX,

Will AA4NC
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Err FW2 indicates a firmware problem.  Try reloading the firmware and if
not successful, contact support/

 From the K3 user manual
" Try re-loading MCU firmware first; then
try initializing parameters (pg. 66)".

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/13/2013 10:19 PM, [hidden email] wrote:

> I followed that procedure (EE Initialization / restored configuration) with no change. I am using the latest 1.13.5.9 K3 utility software.
>
> On SSB, now the radio will transmit about 5-10 seconds, then the power drops to zero and the monitored audio goes silent (although the transmit relay stays engaged). I am occasionally getting ERR FW2, and once I got a "New K3 UTIL software required" message on the front panel.
>
> I tested the radio on CW, where it performs similarly. After transmitting about 5 seconds, it goes into a solid keydown (on the sidetone) / no power output / transmit relay locked / ERR FW2.
>
> Anyone have any other ideas or is it time to ship it back to Elecraft?
>
> Tnx,
>
> Will
>
>
>
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ron D'Eau Claire <[hidden email]>
> To: aa4nc <[hidden email]>; elecraft <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Sat, Jul 13, 2013 4:36 pm
> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] ERR FW2
>
>
> Per the Owner's manual the next step after reinstalling firmware is to
> reinitialize the parameters and reload your configuration file (pg 66 of the
> manual).
>
> 73, Ron AC7AC
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of [hidden email]
> Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2013 1:07 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] ERR FW2
>
> Operating the IARU contest and a previously solid K3 would cease putting out
> power, although it remained in transmit. After an hour of doing this
> intermittently, I started getting an ERR FW2. Power off/on would clear this.
> After another hour, I received a prompt on the front panel that mentioned
> something to the effect of "Use  K3 utlity program". After it locked up with
> the ERR FW2, I downloaded the latest utility and all new software - MCU
> 04.67, FPF 1.15, DSP1 2.81, DSP2 2.81.
>
>
> It worked for an hour and I started receiving the ERR FW2 again.
>
>
> Any ideas??
>
> 73/TNX,
>
> Will AA4NC
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

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[Dominic Baines-3]

Hi,

In the last year I have operated a few times /P from the beach often
with sea spray and recently twice on long ferry crossings of the North
Sea (return operating was cut short though) and out on deck most things
end up with a mist or film of sea spray on them and you will see the
small white spots of salt when the water evaporates. I have noted at
least two of the 4 knurled knobs on my KX3 are showing signs of
corrosion and were becoming difficult to turn. I have cleaned the nut
threads (both sides) and applied a very little copper grease to them I
also washed the whole of the KX3 inside and out (part disassemble
needed) using cotton buds and isopropal alcohol where any salt effects
were obvious. The front bezel screws had kept 99.99% out from the
display but I have had to remove that and clean it up a bit. I might put
back with a fine bead of silicon sealant.

I have added a small copper braid flying lead between the two parts of
the case and covered it with 'liquid rubber'.

The clam shell style unfortunately is not great if you operate in these
environments as sand/salt does get in no matter how hard you try to
protect it.

I do not immerse the radio in the sea but after a couple of weeks in
this environment you will notice the effect. In the meantime antennas
have had to have connectors remade etc. so it is not really a surprise.

Has anyone got an alternative to these knurled knobs that are a little
bigger as it is very difficult to open the case wearing gloves? (you
only need to if you are using the AA batteries which I tend not to if
that wet) I had thought about swapping them for Ali versions or cutting
slots in them for a screw driver. Anything like those lay flat butterfly
nuts/ knobs you used to find on old military kit might suit better.

In definitely wet (i.e. raining) conditions the KX3 is used inside a
tough see through plastic box (lock'n'lock) with leads passed through it
with bathroom silicon sealant. I used to do this with my FT817 as well.
Costs £5 from supermarket.

I wish the KX3 had a lock frequency function which would be useful when
I have to do this, why is this still missing?

72

Dom
M1KTA
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[KE6BB]

Re:  I wish the KX3 had a lock frequency function which would be useful when I have to do this, why is this still missing?

Dom,

Not quite sure what you mean by "lock frequency", but try holding the
RATE/KHZ key down for at least 3 seconds (longer than the normal
press/hold).  The display will show a lock icon next to the frequency
display, and the vfo A knob will not change the frequency.  See the
owner's manual page 11 for more info and how to lock VFO B.

I have been reluctant to use my KX3 at the beach.  I have an ATS-3b that I used often at the beach for many years, and it has its share of damage
from the salt fog environment.  It is much easier to seal, though,
because there are no knobs to turn.  Everything is done with button
presses, so operating it inside of a plastic freezer bag is relatively
simple.  For the KX3, I have considered using something thinner, such as a turkey basting bag, but I really haven't had the time to experiment
with one yet.

Sounds like the knurled knobs that hold the case together are your concern.  I don't think I would want to open my KX3 up in the salt fog environment I am usually in...not even sure I want to take the radio out of a plastic bag!  If I had unlimited resources (money), I would go ahead and operate and throw the radio away when it stops working, but that isn't really an option right now.


I am interested in what others are doing/considering.


Mark
KE6BB





________________________________
 From: Dominic Baines <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Sunday, July 14, 2013 8:33 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 4 knobs and sea spray/salt corrosion
 

Hi,

In the last year I have operated a few times /P from the beach often
with sea spray and recently twice on long ferry crossings of the North
Sea (return operating was cut short though) and out on deck most things
end up with a mist or film of sea spray on them and you will see the
small white spots of salt when the water evaporates. I have noted at
least two of the 4 knurled knobs on my KX3 are showing signs of
corrosion and were becoming difficult to turn. I have cleaned the nut
threads (both sides) and applied a very little copper grease to them I
also washed the whole of the KX3 inside and out (part disassemble
needed) using cotton buds and isopropal alcohol where any salt effects
were obvious. The front bezel screws had kept 99.99% out from the
display but I have had to remove that and clean it up a bit. I might put
back with a fine bead of silicon sealant.

I have added a small copper braid flying lead between the two parts of
the case and covered it with 'liquid rubber'.

The clam shell style unfortunately is not great if you operate in these
environments as sand/salt does get in no matter how hard you try to
protect it.

I do not immerse the radio in the sea but after a couple of weeks in
this environment you will notice the effect. In the meantime antennas
have had to have connectors remade etc. so it is not really a surprise.

Has anyone got an alternative to these knurled knobs that are a little
bigger as it is very difficult to open the case wearing gloves? (you
only need to if you are using the AA batteries which I tend not to if
that wet) I had thought about swapping them for Ali versions or cutting
slots in them for a screw driver. Anything like those lay flat butterfly
nuts/ knobs you used to find on old military kit might suit better.

In definitely wet (i.e. raining) conditions the KX3 is used inside a
tough see through plastic box (lock'n'lock) with leads passed through it
with bathroom silicon sealant. I used to do this with my FT817 as well.
Costs £5 from supermarket.

I wish the KX3 had a lock frequency function which would be useful when
I have to do this, why is this still missing?

72

Dom
M1KTA
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
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