Elecraft CW Net Announcement
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Good Evening,
My fingers are itching from lack of CW work. I have been banging away at a calculator, a spreadsheet, writing simulation software, and realizing the results with components and solder. The results worked. Wow, from idea to reality is quite interesting. My new radio, tuner, and bridge all in one box. But I am still learning. Now to get someone from Delaware or South Dakota to check in to the Elecraft Net. I don't believe folks use amateur radios in Delaware. Prove me wrong tomorrow evening ;) It sounds like 40 meters is open but there are a lot of voice ops working the band. By tomorrow evening they should be done. 20 meters was working earlier as I was testing my new tuner and radio. I think we may have good propagation for all those folks who are not actively feeding at net time. But there are two nets so you can try one, or the other, or both if that is your wont. Please join us : Monday 0000z (Sunday 4pm PST) 14050 kHz Monday 0300z (Sunday 7pm PST) 7045 kHz Visit our web site: http://ecn.visionseer.com/ for net details. Thank you Dan. Happy Easter, Kevin. KD5ONS Next project: current balun for my OCF dipole. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.8.3 - Release Date: 3/25/2005 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] 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 |
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Kevin, I will be operating portable from DE for the ARCI Spring QSO Party. I recently finished building my K2 and will be using it for the contest.
I am calling it my DEpedition. I will probably post an operating schedule in the next week or so but will take special requests if asked :) I will be going down on Friday, 4/8. I should be set up by 6pm or thereabouts. I will be signing as NJ2OM/3. 73 and hope to work you, Mike ============================================================ From: Kevin Rock <[hidden email]> Date: 2005/03/26 Sat PM 11:15:06 EST To: Elecraft <[hidden email]> Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Announcement Good Evening, My fingers are itching from lack of CW work. I have been banging away at a calculator, a spreadsheet, writing simulation software, and realizing the results with components and solder. The results worked. Wow, from idea to reality is quite interesting. My new radio, tuner, and bridge all in one box. But I am still learning. Now to get someone from Delaware or South Dakota to check in to the Elecraft Net. I don't believe folks use amateur radios in Delaware. Prove me wrong tomorrow evening ;) It sounds like 40 meters is open but there are a lot of voice ops working the band. By tomorrow evening they should be done. 20 meters was working earlier as I was testing my new tuner and radio. I think we may have good propagation for all those folks who are not actively feeding at net time. But there are two nets so you can try one, or the other, or both if that is your wont. Please join us : Monday 0000z (Sunday 4pm PST) 14050 kHz Monday 0300z (Sunday 7pm PST) 7045 kHz Visit our web site: http://ecn.visionseer.com/ for net details. Thank you Dan. Happy Easter, Kevin. KD5ONS Next project: current balun for my OCF dipole. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.8.3 - Release Date: 3/25/2005 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] 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: [hidden email] 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: Delaware! & AGC (was: Elecraft CW Net Announcement)
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In reply to this post by Kevin Rock
Kevin,
Kevin Rock wrote on 03/26/05 23:15 ET: > > Now to get someone from Delaware or South Dakota to check in to the > Elecraft Net. I don't believe folks use amateur radios in Delaware. > Prove me wrong tomorrow evening ;) I live in PA but will be glad to operate from my parents' or sister's place down in DE one of these days, but there's a catch. I'm still building my new K2. :-) Last night I completed what the manual calls "Assembly, Part I" of the RF board. What a great feeling to power up the K2 to check out the control and display boards, and to hear the relays click and see the menus working. So far the only thing that hasn't quite reached recommended values is that my control board AGC voltage maxes out at 7.92 V rather than the 8 V mentioned in the manual. I'll have to search & see if anyone has reported a similar thing. Anyway, once the K2 is up and running I'll be glad to check into the net from Delaware once I make a portable dipole for 20m. Maybe another month, plus or minus a little. In my year and a half on the air as a ham I've never checked into a CW net, though, so that'll probably be an adventure itself! Mike AB3AP _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] 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 |
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On Mar 28, 2005, at 10:55 AM, Mike Markowski wrote:
> Last night I completed what the manual calls "Assembly, Part I" of the > RF board. What a great feeling to power up the K2 to check out the > control and display boards, and to hear the relays click and see the > menus working. So far the only thing that hasn't quite reached > recommended values is that my control board AGC voltage maxes out at > 7.92 V rather than the 8 V mentioned in the manual. I'll have to > search > & see if anyone has reported a similar thing. I'm really glad you posted that because I just ran mine through those tests a few days ago and was slightly troubled to note that mine also maxed out just under the 8v. I think mine got up to 7.98. I'll be interested to see what you find out, or who else might chime in with some data. Thanks, Paul KB8NMZ (This weekend I upgraded to General from Grandfathered Novice in anticipation of my K2's completion!) K2 SN 4818 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] 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 |
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I don't recall for sure, having recently completed my K2, but I may have had that same problem at first as well. Make sure you are connecting to a good ground on the RF board. Use those little loops of wire, that is what they are for. I had also put the ground probe for the DMM into one of the 2D connectors but found that my voltage measurement was a bit low. When I used the ground on the board the voltage came right up to what it should be.
As a test engineer I have learned to question measurements and to remeasure. I sometimes stop remeasuring once I get the answer I want to get. ;^) Mark, NK8Q K2 #4786 >From: Paul Bruneau <[hidden email]> >Date: Mon Mar 28 10:22:27 CST 2005 >To: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]> >Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Delaware! & AGC >On Mar 28, 2005, at 10:55 AM, Mike Markowski wrote: > >> Last night I completed what the manual calls "Assembly, Part I" of the >> RF board. What a great feeling to power up the K2 to check out the >> control and display boards, and to hear the relays click and see the >> menus working. So far the only thing that hasn't quite reached >> recommended values is that my control board AGC voltage maxes out at >> 7.92 V rather than the 8 V mentioned in the manual. I'll have to >> search >> & see if anyone has reported a similar thing. > >I'm really glad you posted that because I just ran mine through those >tests a few days ago and was slightly troubled to note that mine also >maxed out just under the 8v. I think mine got up to 7.98. I'll be >interested to see what you find out, or who else might chime in with >some data. > >Thanks, >Paul >KB8NMZ (This weekend I upgraded to General from Grandfathered Novice in >anticipation of my K2's completion!) >K2 SN 4818 > >_______________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Post to: [hidden email] >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: [hidden email] 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 |
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In reply to this post by Mike Markowski
Mike,
Are you measuring on the correct pin, and do you have the RF GAIN at full Clockwise rotation (Max gain)? I see no indication that 8 volts should be measured for the AGC. The manual page 47 calls for setting the AGC Threshold pot to achieve a voltage of 3.80 volts as measured at Control Board U2 pin 5. If you are not able to adjust that high, check the soldering of Control Board RP6 and pot R1 carefully, make certain the resistance from Control Board P1 pin 6 to ground is close to zero (if it is higher, check the connectors), and lastly check the voltage available at the OUT terminal of Control Board U4. There are no active devices in this part of the circuit - it is just a resistive voltage divider with two legs and driven by the 8 volt supply rail. 73, Don W3FPR > -----Original Message----- > > Last night I completed what the manual calls "Assembly, Part I" of the > RF board. What a great feeling to power up the K2 to check out the > control and display boards, and to hear the relays click and see the > menus working. So far the only thing that hasn't quite reached > recommended values is that my control board AGC voltage maxes out at > 7.92 V rather than the 8 V mentioned in the manual. I'll have to search > & see if anyone has reported a similar thing. > > Anyway, once the K2 is up and running I'll be glad to check into the net > from Delaware once I make a portable dipole for 20m. Maybe another > month, plus or minus a little. In my year and a half on the air as a > ham I've never checked into a CW net, though, so that'll probably be an > adventure itself! > > Mike AB3AP > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] 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 |
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Thanks very much, Don, for your ideas. My email had faulty numbers as a
result of a faulty (human!) memory. I remeasured voltages just now at Control Board locations you measured and got these results: - U2 pin 5: maxes out at 3.792 V if you believe that many significant figures. - P1 pin 6: 1.2 mV - U4 OUT: 7.88 V ... the culprit? I will disassemble and check my solder connections you mentioned. Thanks and 73, Mike AB3AP Avondale, PA W3FPR - Don Wilhelm wrote: > Mike, > > Are you measuring on the correct pin, and do you have the RF GAIN at full > Clockwise rotation (Max gain)? > > I see no indication that 8 volts should be measured for the AGC. The manual > page 47 calls for setting the AGC Threshold pot to achieve a voltage of 3.80 > volts as measured at Control Board U2 pin 5. If you are not able to adjust > that high, check the soldering of Control Board RP6 and pot R1 carefully, > make certain the resistance from Control Board P1 pin 6 to ground is close > to zero (if it is higher, check the connectors), and lastly check the > voltage available at the OUT terminal of Control Board U4. There are no > active devices in this part of the circuit - it is just a resistive voltage > divider with two legs and driven by the 8 volt supply rail. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > >>-----Original Message----- >> >>Last night I completed what the manual calls "Assembly, Part I" of the >>RF board. What a great feeling to power up the K2 to check out the >>control and display boards, and to hear the relays click and see the >>menus working. So far the only thing that hasn't quite reached >>recommended values is that my control board AGC voltage maxes out at >>7.92 V rather than the 8 V mentioned in the manual. I'll have to search >>& see if anyone has reported a similar thing. >> >>Anyway, once the K2 is up and running I'll be glad to check into the net >>from Delaware once I make a portable dipole for 20m. Maybe another >>month, plus or minus a little. In my year and a half on the air as a >>ham I've never checked into a CW net, though, so that'll probably be an >>adventure itself! >> >>Mike AB3AP >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > 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: [hidden email] 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 |
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Mike,
No, I do not believe the last digit on your measurement - call it 3.79 and be done with it - that is close enough. Yes, U4 is the culprit here. Everything will likely work FB with the 7.88 volts, and the main thing you will observe is that the 'bogey value' AGC Threshold should be lowered a bit - my guess is: because your 8 volt rail is 0.12 volts low, you should initially set the AGC threshold so the voltage is about 0.06 volts lower than specified in the manual (set to 3.74 volts). I do recommend optimizing your AGC Threshold after you have the K2 up and running on all bands. With no antenna attached, there should be no audible difference between the AGC on and AGC off conditions (using a 0.70 width CW filter on 40 meters with the Preamp off). To achieve that, I would believe that you will end up with an AGC Threshold somewhere between 3.65 volts and 3.70 volts - but that remains to be seen for your particular K2. Further refinements/adjustments are possible, but I cannot go into all the details in a reasonable length reflector post. If you want to do this optimization, the goal should be to achieve a condition where the receiver gain is not reduced by internal receiver noise while retaining 'good' S-meter activity (the CAL S-LO and CAL S-HI setting interact with the AGC Threshold and can create a lot of work if you choose to 'get it just right' - and what is 'right' is subject to individual interpretation). 73, Don W3FPR > -----Original Message----- > > Thanks very much, Don, for your ideas. My email had faulty numbers as a > result of a faulty (human!) memory. I remeasured voltages just now at > Control Board locations you measured and got these results: > > - U2 pin 5: maxes out at 3.792 V if you believe that many > significant figures. > > - P1 pin 6: 1.2 mV > > - U4 OUT: 7.88 V ... the culprit? > > I will disassemble and check my solder connections you mentioned. > > Thanks and 73, > Mike AB3AP > Avondale, PA > > >>from Delaware once I make a portable dipole for 20m. Maybe another > >>month, plus or minus a little. In my year and a half on the air as a > >>ham I've never checked into a CW net, though, so that'll probably be an > >>adventure itself! > >> > >>Mike AB3AP > >> > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] 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 |
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W3FPR - Don Wilhelm wrote:
> No, I do not believe the last digit on your measurement [...] I didn't think so. :-) (But now you know where my earlier incorrectly remembered number of 7.92 V came from.) > my guess is: because your 8 volt rail is > 0.12 volts low, you should initially set the AGC threshold so the voltage is > about 0.06 volts lower than specified in the manual (set to 3.74 volts). Thanks, Don, hearing it explained makes perfect sense. Debugging on my own in the midst of building, though, is difficult so I greatly appreciate the pointers! > I do recommend optimizing your AGC Threshold after you have the K2 up and > running on all bands. [...] Further > refinements/adjustments are possible, but I cannot go into all the details > in a reasonable length reflector post. [...] When I get to this point in the build I'll probably bug, er, contact, you off-list for the particulars if that's ok. I'm sure once the building becomes part of history I'll be glad to have an excuse to tweak and otherwise mess around with the K2. But for now, back to Step 2 in the RF assembly. Last night I finished installing the first armload of resistors. Tonight will probably be the similarly long list of capacitors. And then, oh no, on to winding some toroids. Many thanks, Mike AB3AP Avondale, PA >>-----Original Message----- >> >>Thanks very much, Don, for your ideas. My email had faulty numbers as a >>result of a faulty (human!) memory. I remeasured voltages just now at >>Control Board locations you measured and got these results: >> >> - U2 pin 5: maxes out at 3.792 V if you believe that many >> significant figures. >> >> - P1 pin 6: 1.2 mV >> >> - U4 OUT: 7.88 V ... the culprit? >> >>I will disassemble and check my solder connections you mentioned. >> >>Thanks and 73, >>Mike AB3AP >>Avondale, PA Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] 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 |
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In reply to this post by Mike Markowski
<Thanks very much, Don, for your ideas. My email had
<faulty numbers as a result of a faulty (human!) memory. <I remeasured voltages just now at Control Board <locations you measured and got these results: < - U2 pin 5: maxes out at 3.792 V if you believe that <many significant figures. < - P1 pin 6: 1.2 mV < - U4 OUT: 7.88 V ... the culprit? Finished my K2 a couple weeks ago and got the exact same reading on U2 pin 5 at max. I've checked and rechecked everything at least three times. At first I though it was fluctuating but found I was not setting the RF gain at Max each time. It looks to me like the RP that contains the voltage divider resisters is at the low end of it's tolerance. They are supposed to be 5.1k ohms and I'm measuring them at about 4.9k ohms. Recently an experience person said here on the reflector that they had ran it as low as 3.5v and were happy with the results. My radio works fine to my satisfaction so I'm not going to touch it again unless someone finds a fix. Jim, AB0UK __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources site! http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/resources/ _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] 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 |
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